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1 Technical information: (202) 691-5870 http://www.bls.gov/jlt/ Media contact: USDL 07-0671 For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT Tuesday, May 8, 2007 691-5902 JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: MARCH 2007 On the last business day of March, there were 4.2 million job openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.9 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The job openings and hires rates were unchanged, and the total separations rate was essentially unchanged in March. 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 April 2004 - March 2007 Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted, Percent April 2004 - March 2007 3.9 3.9 3.7 3.7 Hires 3.5 3.3 3.5 3.1 3.3 2.9 Separations 2.7 3.1 2.5 2.3 2.9 2.1 1.9 2.7 1.7 1.5 2005 2006 2007 2.5 2005 2006 2007 Job Openings At 2.9 percent in March, the job openings rate has been essentially flat since November 2005. In March, the job openings rate rose in professional and business services and fell in construction. None of the regions experienced a significant over-the-month change in the job openings rate. The seasonally adjusted job openings rate was highest in March for the following industries: accommodations and food services (4.1 percent), professional and business services (4.1 percent), and education and health services (3.6 percent). (See table 1.) Over the year, the job openings rate increased in nondurable goods manufacturing, wholesale trade, and information. The rate decreased in finance and insurance and in educational services. The job openings rate did not change significantly over the year in any of the regions. (See table 5.) 2 Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted Job openings Industry Mar. 2006 Feb. 2007 1 Total .................................................................... 3,999 4,149 Total private 1 ................................................ 3,568 3,666 229 Construction ............................................... 155 330 Manufacturing ............................................ 320 2 660 Trade, transportation, and utilities ...... 663 378 Retail trade................................................ 388 682 642 Professional and business services 670 Education and health services ................. 661 566 Leisure and hospitality 3 .......................... 525 511 Accommodations and food services .. 453 482 Government 4 ................................................ 421 392 438 State and local government ..................... Total 1 .................................................................... Total private 1 ............................................... Construction ............................................... Manufacturing ........................................... Trade, transportation, and utilities 2 ..... Retail trade .............................................. Professional and business services ....... Education and health services ................ Leisure and hospitality 3 ......................... Accommodations and food services .. Government 4 ................................................ State and local government ..................... 1 2 3 4 p 2.9 3.0 2.0 2.2 2.5 2.5 3.8 3.6 3.9 3.9 1.9 2.0 2.9 3.1 2.9 2.3 2.4 2.4 3.5 3.6 4.0 4.3 2.1 2.2 Hires Feb. 2007 Mar.p 2007 Mar. 2006 4,173 3,689 139 319 679 364 756 687 550 487 482 436 Levels (in thousands) 4,877 4,815 4,786 4,503 4,509 4,442 372 298 371 344 371 323 1,082 1,018 1,002 772 695 687 904 953 851 441 518 498 846 934 881 722 778 737 377 379 330 322 317 304 Rates (percent) 2.9 3.1 1.8 2.2 2.5 2.3 4.1 3.6 3.9 4.1 2.1 2.2 3.6 4.0 4.8 2.4 4.1 5.0 5.2 2.5 6.5 6.5 1.7 1.7 3.5 3.9 3.9 2.6 3.9 4.5 5.3 2.9 7.0 6.8 1.7 1.6 Mar.p 2007 3.5 3.8 4.8 2.3 3.8 4.5 4.8 2.7 6.6 6.4 1.5 1.6 Total separations Mar. Feb. Mar. 2006 2007 2007 p 4,846 4,529 423 429 965 684 853 419 810 698 322 256 4,556 4,263 322 422 943 656 862 419 835 697 294 243 4,629 4,357 330 394 951 663 877 438 820 691 265 240 3.6 4.0 5.5 3.0 3.7 4.4 4.9 2.4 6.2 6.3 1.5 1.3 3.3 3.7 4.2 3.0 3.6 4.3 4.8 2.3 6.2 6.1 1.3 1.2 3.4 3.8 4.3 2.8 3.6 4.3 4.9 2.4 6.1 6.0 1.2 1.2 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately. Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. Includes federal government, not shown separately. = preliminary. Hires The hires rate was unchanged at 3.5 percent in March. Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. In March, the hires rate fell in manufacturing and government. None of the regions experienced a significant over-the-month change in the hires rate. The seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in March in accommodations and food services (6.4 percent). (See table 2.) From March 2006 to March 2007, the hires rate rose in wholesale trade and educational services and fell in retail trade; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; professional and business services; federal government; and state and local government. Regionally, the hires rate decreased over the year in the Northeast. (See table 6.) Separations The total separations, or turnover, rate was little changed at 3.4 percent in March. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In March, the only sector to experience 3 a change in the separations rate was government, where the rate declined slightly. None of the regions experienced a significant change in the separations rate. From March 2006 to March 2007, the total separations rate did not rise significantly in any industry; the rate declined in construction, other services, and federal government. Geographically, none of the regions experienced a significant change in the total separations rate over the year. (See tables 3 and 7.) Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and discharges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including retirements). The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers’ ability to change jobs, was unchanged at 2.0 percent in March. Over the month, the quits rate rose in state and local government; the rate did not fall in any industry. None of the regions experienced a significant change in the quits rate over the month. In March, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest in the accommodations and food services industry (4.7 percent). (See table 4.) Over the year, the quits rate rose in nondurable manufacturing; finance and insurance; and real estate and rental and leasing. The quits rate fell over the year in construction, other services, and federal government. Geographically, the quits rate declined over the year in the Northeast region. (See table 8.) The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not seasonally adjusted. For March, the layoffs and discharges rate (1.0 percent) and level (1.3 million) were unchanged from a year earlier. As is typical in many months, the layoffs and discharges rate in March was highest in construction (2.4 percent) and arts, entertainment, and recreation (2.2 percent). From March 2006 to March 2007, the other separations rate was essentially unchanged at 0.2 percent, and the level was little changed at 288,000. (See tables 9 and 10.) The total separations rate is driven by the relative contribution of its three components (quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations), with quits contributing the largest portion. The percentage of total separations attributable to quits has risen and fallen over time along with employment levels. The proportion of quits fell from 61 percent in February 2001 to 51 percent in August 2003 (seasonally adjusted), and has since risen. In March 2007, the percentage of quits was 58 percent. Flows in the Labor Market Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market. For the 12 months ending in March 2007, hires have averaged 4.9 million per month and separations have averaged 4.6 million per month (not seasonally adjusted). The comparable figures for the prior 12-month period were 4.8 million hires and 4.6 million separations. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.) Several industries consistently have high rates of both hires and separations. These include construction; retail trade; professional and business services; arts, entertainment, and recreation; and accommodations and food services. In the 12 months ending in March 2007, these 5 industries produced 34.8 million hires and 32.8 million separations. Thus, these five industries accounted for 59 percent of total nonfarm hires and 59 percent of total nonfarm separations while comprising only 39 percent of total nonfarm employment. 4 For More Information For additional information, please read the Technical Note or visit the JOLTS Web site at http://www. bls.gov/jlt/. Additional information about JOLTS also may be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling (202) 691-5870. ______________________________ The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for April 2007 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, June 12. Technical Note The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) are collected and compiled monthly from a sample of business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Collection Each month, data are collected in a survey of business establishments for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, fax, and mail. Coverage The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local government entities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Concepts Industry classification. The industry classifications in this release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Workforce Agencies verify with employers and update, if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership classification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establishment characteristics resulting from the verification process are always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data reported for the first month of the year. Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes the 12th day of the reference month. Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried, and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without pay or on strike for the entire pay period, are not counted as employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment where they are working. Job openings. Establishments submit job openings information for the last business day of the reference month. A job opening requires that: 1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that position, 2) work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside the establishment to fill the position. Included are full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings. Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in newspapers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using other similar methods. Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded are jobs with start dates more than 30 days in the future, jobs for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying that quotient by 100. Hires. Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occurring at any time during the reference month, including both new and rehired employees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more than 7 days, on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after having been formally separated, and transfers from other locations. The hires count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100. Separations. Separations are the total number of terminations of employment occurring at any time during the reference month, and are reported by type of separation— quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements, which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal layoffs lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges resulting from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other separations include retirements, transfers to other locations, deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not include transfers within the same location or employees on strike. The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100. The quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by employment and multiplying by 100. Annual estimates. Annual estimates of rates and levels of hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total separations are released with the January news release each year. The JOLTS annual level estimates for hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total separations are the sum of the 12 published monthly levels. The annual rate estimates are computed by dividing the annual level by the Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average employment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100. This figure will be approximately equal to the sum of the 12 monthly rates. Note that both the JOLTS and CES annual levels are rounded to the nearest thousand before the annual estimates are calculated. Consistent with BLS practices, annual estimates will be published only for not seasonally adjusted data. Annual estimates are not calculated for job openings because job openings are a stock, or point-in-time, measurement for the last business day of each month. Only jobs still open on the last day of the month are counted. For the same reason job openings cannot be cumulated throughout each month, annual figures for job openings cannot be created by summing the monthly estimates. Hires and separations are flow measures and are cumulated over the month with a total reported for the month. Therefore, the annual figures can be created by summing the monthly estimates. Sample methodology The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000 nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local governments in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program includes all employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE). The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, industry sector, and size class. Large firms fall into the sample with virtual certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates are controlled to the employment estimates of the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey. A ratio of CES to JOLTS employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels. Using JOLTS data The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel enrolled each month. A full complement of panels for the original data series based on the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data collected up until those points are from less than a full sample. Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting data at that time. In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and separations data were revised to address possible underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later. The federal government reorganization that involved transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal government. The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between establishments. The Department of Homeland Security reorganization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal government time series. Seasonal adjustment BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in the level of the series, particularly those associated with general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using all relevant data, up to and including the data for the current month. Prior to the January 2007 benchmark release in March 2007, seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series was conducted using the stable seasonal filter option since there were not enough data observations available for the standard use of moving averages as seasonal filters. Although the seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than is customary, the number of observations is now above the minimum required by X-12-ARIMA to use the normal seasonal filters. Therefore, the standard use of moving averages as seasonal filters is now in place for JOLTS seasonal adjustment. JOLTS seasonal adjustment now includes both additive and multiplicative seasonal adjustment models and REGARIMA (regression with autocorrelated errors) modeling to improve the seasonal adjustment factors at the beginning and end of the series and to detect and adjust for outliers in the series. Due to the improved diagnostics, three additional industries are now seasonally adjusted: retail trade, accommodations and food services, and state and local government. It is expected that more series may be seasonally adjusted when more data are available. Reliability of the estimates JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the “true” population values they represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate. BLS analysis is generally conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence. That means that there is a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the “true” population value because of sampling error. Estimates of sampling errors are available upon request. The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to include a segment of the population, the inability to obtain data from all units in the sample, the inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis, mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or processing of the data, and errors from the employment benchmark data used in estimation. JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment. Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations, especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period for payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the month, while the reference period for hires and separations is the calendar month; and 2) payroll employment can vary from month to month simply because part-time and on-call workers may not always work during the pay period that includes the 12th of the month. Additionally, research has found that some reporters systematically underreport separations relative to hires due to a number of factors, including the nature of their payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be about 2 percent or less over a 12-month period. Other information Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral phone: 1-800-877-8339. Table 1. Job openings levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels 3 (in thousands) Nov. Dec. Jan. 2006 2006 2007 Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007p Mar. 2006 Oct. 2006 Nov. 2006 Rates Dec. 2006 Jan. 2007 Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007p 3,999 4,157 4,200 4,401 4,222 4,149 Total 4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,173 2.9 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.0 2.9 2.9 3,689 139 319 679 364 756 687 550 487 482 436 3.0 2.0 2.2 2.5 2.5 3.8 3.6 3.9 3.9 1.9 2.0 3.1 1.7 2.5 2.4 2.4 3.9 4.0 4.2 4.1 2.0 2.1 3.1 1.4 2.3 2.5 2.7 3.8 3.8 4.5 4.4 2.0 2.2 3.3 1.4 2.5 2.8 3.0 4.0 3.9 4.4 4.5 2.1 2.2 3.1 1.8 2.3 2.7 2.6 3.8 3.8 4.0 4.1 2.1 2.2 3.1 2.9 2.3 2.4 2.4 3.5 3.6 4.0 4.3 2.1 2.2 3.1 1.8 2.2 2.5 2.3 4.1 3.6 3.9 4.1 2.1 2.2 707 1,648 783 1,035 2.5 3.2 2.3 3.2 2.9 3.3 2.4 3.1 2.9 3.1 2.4 3.3 3.2 3.3 2.5 3.3 2.8 3.2 2.5 3.2 2.7 3.2 2.4 3.2 2.7 3.2 2.4 3.3 Industry and region Mar. 2006 Oct. 2006 INDUSTRY 4 Total private ……………………………………………………………………………….. 3,568 3,702 3,735 3,928 3,746 3,666 Construction……………………………………………………………… 155 137 106 107 142 229 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 320 364 328 362 337 330 Trade, transportation, and utilities 5………………………… 663 658 671 767 727 660 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 388 370 417 471 413 378 Professional and business services……………………. 682 709 705 745 707 642 Education and health services…………………………………………. 661 749 713 734 707 670 Leisure and hospitality 6………………...…………………………… 525 579 625 612 552 566 Accommodations and food services……………………. 453 487 528 538 495 511 Government 7…………………………………………………………………………….. 421 460 463 473 477 482 State and local government…………….………………………………………….………………. 392 423 427 427 439 438 REGION 8 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 662 760 772 849 733 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,618 1,649 1,572 1,674 1,653 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 733 769 770 810 822 West………………………………………………………………………….. 998 989 1,034 1,044 1,005 1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month. 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. 5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately. 6 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. 7 Includes federal government, not shown separately. 717 1,631 783 1,011 8 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. p = preliminary. Table 2. Hires levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels 3 (in thousands) Nov. Dec. Jan. 2006 2006 2007 Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007p Mar. 2006 Oct. 2006 Nov. 2006 Rates Dec. 2006 Jan. 2007 Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007p Total 4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,877 4,983 4,994 4,959 4,959 4,815 4,786 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.5 4,442 371 323 1,002 687 851 498 881 737 330 304 4.0 4.8 2.4 4.1 5.0 5.2 2.5 6.5 6.5 1.7 1.7 4.0 4.5 2.6 3.8 4.7 5.6 2.9 6.7 6.7 1.6 1.7 4.1 5.1 2.6 3.8 4.8 5.7 2.7 6.8 6.6 1.6 1.6 4.1 4.4 2.7 3.8 4.6 5.4 2.8 7.2 6.9 1.7 1.6 4.0 3.9 2.6 3.9 4.9 5.4 2.8 7.1 7.2 1.7 1.7 3.9 3.9 2.6 3.9 4.5 5.3 2.9 7.0 6.8 1.7 1.6 3.8 4.8 2.3 3.8 4.5 4.8 2.7 6.6 6.4 1.5 1.6 704 1,836 1,093 1,145 3.3 3.7 3.4 3.8 2.8 4.0 3.5 3.9 2.8 4.0 3.4 4.1 3.0 3.9 3.6 3.9 3.2 3.9 3.7 3.7 2.8 3.7 3.7 3.8 2.7 3.7 3.4 3.7 Industry and region Mar. 2006 Oct. 2006 INDUSTRY Total private 4……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,503 4,616 4,665 4,662 4,607 4,509 Construction……………………………………………………………… 372 345 395 341 299 298 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 344 366 363 375 369 371 Trade, transportation, and utilities 5………………………… 1,082 1,008 1,012 990 1,020 1,018 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 772 713 737 699 757 695 Professional and business services……………………. 904 994 1,010 963 954 953 Education and health services…………………………………………. 441 529 492 515 508 518 Leisure and hospitality 6………………...…………………………… 846 893 903 969 956 934 Accommodations and food services……………………. 722 758 748 793 825 778 Government 7…………………………………………………………………………….. 377 363 348 371 384 379 State and local government…………….………………………………………….………………. 322 320 303 313 321 317 REGION 8 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 830 727 713 768 833 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,798 1,969 1,979 1,900 1,899 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 1,061 1,097 1,061 1,150 1,167 West………………………………………………………………………….. 1,142 1,198 1,249 1,209 1,142 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. 2 709 1,837 1,184 1,156 5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately. 6 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. 7 Includes federal government, not shown separately. 8 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 3. Total separations levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels 3 (in thousands) Nov. Dec. Jan. 2006 2006 2007 Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007p Mar. 2006 Oct. 2006 Nov. 2006 Rates Dec. 2006 Jan. 2007 Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007p Total 4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,846 4,613 4,844 4,540 4,602 4,556 4,629 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.4 4,357 330 394 951 663 877 438 820 691 265 240 4.0 5.5 3.0 3.7 4.4 4.9 2.4 6.2 6.3 1.5 1.3 3.8 4.8 2.5 3.8 4.5 5.2 2.4 6.0 5.9 1.3 1.3 4.0 5.4 2.5 3.9 4.7 5.5 2.4 6.3 6.3 1.4 1.3 3.7 5.0 2.6 3.7 4.6 4.8 2.4 6.2 6.6 1.3 1.3 3.7 5.2 2.8 3.7 4.4 5.0 2.3 5.7 5.4 1.4 1.3 3.7 4.2 3.0 3.6 4.3 4.8 2.3 6.2 6.1 1.3 1.2 3.8 4.3 2.8 3.6 4.3 4.9 2.4 6.1 6.0 1.2 1.2 659 1,782 1,010 1,104 2.8 3.8 3.3 3.9 2.9 3.5 3.4 3.5 2.8 4.1 3.1 3.5 2.6 3.7 3.3 3.4 2.9 3.6 3.3 3.4 2.6 3.6 3.3 3.4 2.6 3.6 3.2 3.6 Industry and region Mar. 2006 Oct. 2006 INDUSTRY 4 Total private ……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,529 4,323 4,543 4,253 4,296 4,263 Construction……………………………………………………………… 423 373 413 387 400 322 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 429 359 360 372 399 422 Trade, transportation, and utilities 5………………………… 965 987 1,020 962 973 943 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 684 688 719 707 680 656 Professional and business services……………………. 853 921 974 851 894 862 Education and health services…………………………………………. 419 424 430 430 423 419 Leisure and hospitality 6………………...…………………………… 810 791 838 835 768 835 Accommodations and food services……………………. 698 673 721 757 612 697 Government 7…………………………………………………………………………….. 322 298 305 283 309 294 State and local government…………….………………………………………….………………. 256 248 256 255 254 243 REGION 8 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 699 745 707 670 740 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,858 1,709 2,011 1,796 1,783 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 1,030 1,072 985 1,054 1,034 West………………………………………………………………………….. 1,168 1,081 1,079 1,036 1,037 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, 675 1,763 1,054 1,041 and other services, not shown separately. 5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately. 6 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. 7 Includes federal government, not shown separately. 8 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 4. Quits levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels 3 (in thousands) Nov. Dec. Jan. 2006 2006 2007 Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007p Mar. 2006 Oct. 2006 Nov. 2006 Rates Dec. 2006 Jan. 2007 Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007p 2,797 2,655 2,774 2,759 2,648 2,705 Total 4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,706 2.1 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.0 2,560 115 223 573 401 461 277 590 542 141 130 2.3 2.5 1.4 2.3 2.9 2.5 1.5 4.3 4.7 .7 .7 2.2 1.8 1.4 2.3 2.9 2.7 1.5 4.1 4.4 .7 .6 2.3 1.9 1.5 2.5 3.1 2.7 1.5 4.2 4.6 .7 .6 2.3 1.9 1.6 2.3 2.9 2.8 1.6 4.5 4.9 .7 .7 2.2 1.8 1.6 2.3 2.7 2.8 1.5 3.7 3.9 .7 .7 2.2 1.6 1.5 2.3 2.9 2.7 1.5 4.3 4.6 .6 .6 2.2 1.5 1.6 2.2 2.6 2.6 1.5 4.4 4.7 .6 .7 331 1,139 599 635 1.5 2.4 2.0 2.1 1.4 2.2 1.9 1.9 1.6 2.4 1.7 2.1 1.4 2.4 1.8 2.1 1.4 2.2 1.9 2.0 1.3 2.3 1.9 2.0 1.3 2.3 1.9 2.1 Industry and region Mar. 2006 Oct. 2006 INDUSTRY 4 Total private ……………………………………………………………………………….. 2,632 2,513 2,625 2,615 2,505 2,571 Construction……………………………………………………………… 196 137 144 143 141 120 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 206 196 211 222 229 212 Trade, transportation, and utilities 5………………………… 601 593 661 597 594 606 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 442 438 472 438 422 438 Professional and business services……………………. 437 475 486 497 498 486 Education and health services…………………………………………. 271 274 278 289 271 280 6 Leisure and hospitality ………………...…………………………… 564 542 565 602 489 579 Accommodations and food services……………………. 518 496 520 560 448 531 Government 7…………………………………………………………………………….. 154 144 147 146 150 139 State and local government…………….………………………………………….………………. 127 124 125 130 129 117 REGION 8 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 379 359 409 367 355 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,179 1,101 1,167 1,171 1,099 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 612 604 543 559 595 West………………………………………………………………………….. 625 592 645 638 602 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. 2 322 1,152 599 629 5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately. 6 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. 7 Includes federal government, not shown separately. 8 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 5. Job openings levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Mar. 2006 Feb. 2007 Rates Mar. 2007p Mar. 2006 Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,100 3,967 4,259 3.0 2.8 3.0 Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 3,688 3,521 3,788 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 14 12 13 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 163 209 145 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 337 341 333 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 234 208 205 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 103 132 128 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 671 594 683 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 158 132 194 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 383 323 351 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 130 140 138 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 123 150 156 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 304 214 240 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 246 176 186 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 58 38 54 Professional and business services…………………………………. 657 627 735 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 679 657 697 Educational services………………………………………………………. 75 60 55 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 603 597 642 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 599 541 622 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 78 56 69 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 520 485 553 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 140 176 164 3.2 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.0 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.6 3.9 3.5 3.8 2.6 3.7 3.7 2.4 3.9 4.5 4.3 4.5 2.5 3.0 1.7 2.8 2.4 2.3 2.5 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.7 4.6 2.5 2.7 1.7 3.5 3.5 1.9 3.8 4.0 3.1 4.2 3.2 3.2 1.8 1.9 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.5 3.2 2.3 2.7 4.8 2.8 2.9 2.4 4.0 3.7 1.7 4.0 4.5 3.7 4.7 2.9 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 412 447 471 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 36 49 53 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 376 397 418 1.8 1.3 1.9 1.9 1.8 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.1 2.5 3.4 2.4 3.2 2.5 3.2 2.3 3.0 2.6 3.4 2.5 3.3 INDUSTRY REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 651 666 680 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,684 1,607 1,723 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 769 741 816 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 996 953 1,040 1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month. The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. 3 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary. 2 Table 6. Hires levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Mar. 2006 Feb. 2007 Rates Mar. 2007p Mar. 2006 Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,724 4,068 4,587 3.5 3.0 3.4 Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,457 3,796 4,358 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 22 21 20 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 409 237 407 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 357 351 335 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 217 200 193 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 140 150 141 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 1,040 806 966 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 125 125 166 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 750 539 662 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 165 142 138 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 67 59 69 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 197 181 184 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 133 117 114 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 64 64 71 Professional and business services…………………………………. 888 871 831 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 408 448 455 Educational services………………………………………………………. 41 69 42 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 367 379 413 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 917 743 917 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 130 84 132 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 787 659 785 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 152 81 175 4.0 3.4 5.6 2.5 2.4 2.7 4.0 2.1 5.0 3.3 2.2 2.4 2.2 3.0 5.2 2.3 1.3 2.5 7.2 7.4 7.2 2.8 3.3 3.1 3.3 2.5 2.3 2.9 3.1 2.1 3.6 2.8 1.9 2.2 1.9 2.9 5.0 2.5 2.2 2.5 5.8 4.8 5.9 1.5 3.8 2.8 5.5 2.4 2.2 2.8 3.7 2.8 4.4 2.7 2.3 2.2 1.8 3.3 4.7 2.5 1.3 2.7 7.0 7.3 7.0 3.2 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 267 272 229 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 43 49 22 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 223 223 208 1.2 1.6 1.1 1.2 1.8 1.1 1.0 .8 1.0 3.0 3.7 3.5 3.5 2.0 3.3 3.1 3.2 2.5 3.7 3.3 3.5 INDUSTRY REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 761 506 643 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,808 1,625 1,823 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 1,087 974 1,054 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1,068 962 1,067 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary. 2 Table 7. Total separations levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Mar. 2006 Feb. 2007 Rates Mar. 2007p Mar. 2006 Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,291 3,752 4,127 3.2 2.8 3.0 Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,066 3,554 3,951 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 27 20 20 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 398 271 297 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 428 378 397 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 239 234 235 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 189 145 162 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 870 805 848 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 145 105 138 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 606 574 574 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 119 126 135 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 60 69 76 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 210 201 240 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 130 133 160 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 79 67 79 Professional and business services…………………………………. 834 729 860 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 380 337 401 Educational services………………………………………………………. 42 44 34 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 339 293 367 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 667 625 677 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 65 83 80 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 602 542 597 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 192 119 135 3.6 4.1 5.4 3.0 2.7 3.7 3.4 2.5 4.0 2.4 2.0 2.5 2.1 3.7 4.8 2.1 1.4 2.3 5.3 3.7 5.5 3.5 3.1 2.8 3.8 2.7 2.6 2.8 3.1 1.8 3.8 2.5 2.2 2.4 2.1 3.1 4.2 1.8 1.4 1.9 4.9 4.7 4.9 2.2 3.5 2.9 4.0 2.8 2.6 3.2 3.2 2.3 3.8 2.7 2.5 2.8 2.6 3.7 4.9 2.2 1.1 2.4 5.2 4.4 5.3 2.5 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 225 198 176 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 50 46 16 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 175 152 160 1.0 1.9 .9 .9 1.7 .8 .8 .6 .8 2.3 3.5 3.0 3.5 2.0 3.1 2.8 2.8 2.1 3.3 2.9 3.4 INDUSTRY REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 582 518 540 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,703 1,495 1,626 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 944 884 916 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1,063 856 1,045 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month. The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary. 2 Table 8. Quits levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Mar. 2006 Feb. 2007 Rates Mar. 2007p Mar. 2006 Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,572 2,201 2,503 1.9 1.6 1.8 2.2 2.1 2.5 1.4 1.4 1.5 2.2 1.4 2.7 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 2.7 1.4 .7 1.6 3.7 1.9 4.0 2.7 1.9 1.6 1.2 1.3 1.1 1.7 1.9 1.3 2.4 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.4 2.3 1.3 .6 1.4 3.5 1.7 3.8 1.5 2.1 1.8 1.4 1.6 1.4 1.9 2.0 1.6 2.4 1.3 1.7 1.9 1.7 2.4 2.7 1.4 .7 1.5 3.8 2.0 4.1 1.7 .5 .8 .5 .4 .6 .4 .5 .3 .5 1.3 2.2 1.8 2.0 .9 2.0 1.5 1.7 1.1 2.1 1.8 2.0 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 2,454 2,102 2,395 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 14 11 13 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 184 88 103 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 203 182 224 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 125 95 128 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 79 86 96 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 565 505 524 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 82 75 96 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 412 365 364 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 71 65 64 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 42 37 51 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 117 117 160 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 87 87 108 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 30 30 52 Professional and business services…………………………………. 465 397 474 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 251 229 256 Educational services………………………………………………………. 20 19 20 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 231 210 236 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 466 453 497 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 34 31 37 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 432 422 460 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 147 84 92 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 118 99 107 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 21 15 7 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 97 84 100 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 335 237 287 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,077 961 1,044 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 570 486 565 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 591 517 607 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary. 2 Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Mar. 2006 Feb. 2007 Rates Mar. 2007p Mar. 2006 Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,371 1,275 1,336 1.0 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.5 2.6 1.3 .9 1.9 .8 .7 1.0 .6 .4 .8 .5 1.7 1.8 .6 .6 .6 1.4 1.7 1.4 .6 1.1 .7 2.4 1.1 1.2 1.0 .9 .4 1.1 .9 .9 .8 .6 1.5 1.6 .5 .6 .5 1.2 2.9 .9 .5 1.1 .7 2.4 1.0 .9 1.1 .9 .6 1.0 1.0 .6 .8 .7 1.0 1.9 .7 .4 .7 1.2 2.2 1.1 .7 .3 .5 .2 .2 .4 .2 .2 .1 .2 .8 1.1 1.0 1.1 .9 .9 1.1 .9 .7 1.0 1.0 1.2 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 1,311 1,229 1,299 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 10 5 5 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 192 170 173 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 185 161 138 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 85 108 82 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 100 52 56 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 220 240 243 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 40 25 38 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 149 171 155 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 31 44 50 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 13 29 17 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 70 70 66 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 33 38 44 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 37 32 21 Professional and business services…………………………………. 305 286 340 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 105 89 119 Educational services………………………………………………………. 18 20 13 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 88 68 107 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 178 154 161 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 30 51 40 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 148 104 120 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 32 25 37 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 60 46 37 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 13 11 3 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 47 35 34 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 190 226 188 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 527 436 469 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 312 346 303 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 341 268 376 1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month. The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary. 2 Table 10. Other separations levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Mar. 2006 Feb. 2007 Rates Mar. 2007p Mar. 2006 Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 348 276 288 0.3 0.2 0.2 Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 301 223 257 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 3 3 3 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 22 12 21 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 40 36 35 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 29 30 26 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 11 6 9 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 85 60 81 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 24 5 4 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 45 38 55 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 17 18 22 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 5 3 8 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 23 14 14 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 10 8 8 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 12 6 6 Professional and business services…………………………………. 64 46 45 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 25 19 26 Educational services………………………………………………………. 4 4 1 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 21 15 25 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 23 18 19 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 2 2 2 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 22 16 16 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 12 11 6 .3 .5 .3 .3 .3 .2 .3 .4 .3 .3 .1 .3 .2 .6 .4 .1 .1 .1 .2 .1 .2 .2 .2 .5 .2 .3 .3 .1 .2 .1 .3 .4 .1 .2 .1 .3 .3 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .2 .2 .4 .3 .2 .3 .2 .3 .1 .4 .4 .2 .2 .1 .3 .3 .1 (4 ) .2 .1 .1 .1 .1 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 47 53 31 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 16 20 5 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 30 33 26 .2 .6 .2 .2 .7 .2 .1 .2 .1 .2 .2 .2 .4 .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 .2 .2 .2 INDUSTRY REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 56 55 65 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 99 98 113 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 62 53 48 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 130 71 62 1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month. The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 8, table 1. 4 Data round to zero. p = preliminary. 2