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1

Technical information:

(202) 691-5870
http://www.bls.gov/jlt/

Media contact:

USDL 05-1290
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Tuesday, July 12, 2005

691-5902

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: MAY 2005
The job openings, hires, and total separations rates were all essentially unchanged in May, 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
December 2000 - May 2005

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,
Percent
December 2000 - May 2005

4.0

4.0

3.8

3.8

3.6

3.6

3.4

3.4

3.2

3.2

3.0

3.0

2.8

2.8

2.6

2.6

2.4

2.4

2.2

2.2

2.0

2.0

Hires

Separations

1.8

1.8
2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Job Openings
On the last business day of May 2005, there were 3.5 million job openings in the United States, and the
job openings rate was 2.5 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate was little changed in May, but has
generally trended upward since September 2003. In May, the job openings rate decreased in the manufacturing industry and in the Northeast region.
Hires and Separations
The hires rate was little changed at 3.5 percent in May. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to the
payroll during the month. In May, the hires rate did not change significantly in any industry, but increased in
the South and Midwest regions.
The total separations, or turnover, rate was little changed at 3.3 percent in May. (See table 3.)
Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In May, the total
separations rate did not change significantly in any industry, but decreased in the Northeast region.

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 ..........................................

May
2004

Apr.
2005

Hires
Apr.
2005

May
2005p

May
2004

Levels (in thousands)
4,538
4,708
4,339
4,057
4,212
4,366
369
412
422
347
319
345

3,181
2,819
114
241

3,576
3,178
113
259

3,465
3,090
111
236

549

627

622

954

1,042

582
540
394
359

691
608
457
396

645
604
465
374

691
445
790
276

792
487
742
329

May
2005p

Total separations
May
May
Apr.
2005
2005p
2004
4,254
3,986
388
370

4,562
4,306
421
369

4,425
4,180
392
357

1,036

976

1,018

946

834
460
750
338

648
390
736
274

869
433
709
256

824
413
746
254

Rates (percent)
Total 1.........................................................
Total private 1.......................................
Construction ...................................
Manufacturing ................................
Trade, transportation, and
utilities ...........................................
Professional and business
services .........................................
Education and health services ....
Leisure and hospitality .................
Government ..........................................
1

2.4
2.5
1.6
1.7

2.6
2.8
1.5
1.8

2.5
2.7
1.5
1.6

3.3
3.7
5.3
2.4

3.4
3.8
5.7
2.2

3.5
3.9
5.8
2.4

3.2
3.6
5.6
2.6

3.4
3.9
5.8
2.6

3.3
3.7
5.4
2.5

2.1

2.4

2.4

3.7

4.0

4.0

3.8

3.9

3.7

3.4
3.1
3.1
1.6

3.9
3.4
3.5
1.8

3.7
3.4
3.5
1.7

4.2
2.6
6.3
1.3

4.7
2.8
5.8
1.5

5.0
2.7
5.9
1.6

4.0
2.3
5.9
1.3

5.2
2.5
5.6
1.2

4.9
2.4
5.9
1.2

Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.

Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and discharges (involuntary separations),
and other separations (including retirements). The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers’
ability to change jobs, remained at 1.9 percent in May. (See table 4.) The quits rate did not change
significantly in any industry in May, but decreased in the Northeast region. The other two components of
total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not seasonally adjusted. From May
2004 to May 2005, the layoffs and discharges rate (1.1 percent) and the other separations rate (0.2 percent)
were unchanged. (See tables 9 and 10.)
Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the last 12 months, hires
have averaged 4.6 million per month and separations have averaged 4.3 million per month. The comparable
figures a year earlier were 4.3 million hires and 4.1 million separations. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.)

3

For More Information
For additional information, please see the Technical Note or the JOLTS Web site at www.bls.gov/jlt/.
Additional information about JOLTS also may be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling
(202) 691-5870.
______________________________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for June 2005 is scheduled to be issued on Wednesday,
August 10, 2005.

Technical Note
The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey
(JOLTS) are collected and compiled monthly from a sample of
business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
(BLS).
Collection
Each month, data are collected in a survey of business
establishments for total employment, job openings, hires, quits,
layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection
methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing,
touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.
Coverage
The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm
establishments such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as
federal, state, and local government entities in the 50 states and
the District of Columbia.
Concepts
Industry classification. The industry classifications in this
release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to
ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Employment
Security Agencies verify with employers and update, if
necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership
classification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes
in establishment characteristics resulting from the verification
process are always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame
with the data reported for the first month of the year.
Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll
who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes
the 12th day of the reference month. Full-time, part-time,
permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried, and hourly
employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or
other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated
businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without
pay or on strike for the entire pay period, are not counted as
employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee
leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are
counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment
where they are working.
Job openings. Establishments submit job openings
information for the last business day of the reference month.
A job opening requires that: 1) a specific position exists and
there is work available for that position, 2) work could start
within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is
found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside
the establishment to fill the position. Included are full-time,
part-time, permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings.
Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps
to fill a position by advertising in newspapers or on the Internet,
posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using
other similar methods.
Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions,
demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded

are jobs with start dates more than 30 days in the future, jobs
for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported
for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of temporary help
agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or
consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing
the number of job openings by the sum of employment and job
openings and multiplying that quotient by 100.
Hires. Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll
occurring at any time during the reference month, including
both new and rehired employees, full-time and part-time,
permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees
recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more than 7 days,
on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after
having been formally separated, and transfers from other
locations. The hires count does not include transfers or
promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from
strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee
leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The
hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by
employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.
Separations. Separations are the total number of
terminations of employment occurring at any time during the
reference month, and are reported by type of separation—
quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are
voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements,
which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and
discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the
employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal
layoffs lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges
resulting from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other
discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term
employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other
separations include retirements, transfers to other locations,
deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not
include transfers within the same location or employees on
strike.
The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of
separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by
100. The quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations
rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by
employment and multiplying by 100.
Sample methodology
The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000
nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices,
and stores, as well as federal, state, and local governments in
the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments
are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments
compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of
Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program
includes all employers subject to state Unemployment
Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to
Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).
The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region,
industry sector, and size class. Large firms fall into the sample

with virtual certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates are
controlled to the employment estimates of the Current
Employment Statistics (CES) survey. A ratio of CES to JOLTS
employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data
elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.
Using JOLTS data
The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and
separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into
panels, with one panel enrolled each month. A full complement
of panels for the original data series based on the 1987 Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely
enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental
panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates
were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data
collected up until those points are from less than a full sample.
Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with
caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting data at that time.
In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and
separations data were revised to address possible
underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations
estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be
comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later.
The federal government reorganization that involved
transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new
Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS
hires and separations estimates for the federal government.
The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these
transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of
transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is
intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between
establishments. The Department of Homeland Security
reorganization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion
of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal
government time series.
Seasonal adjustment
BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the
X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal
adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic
fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays, and
the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal
adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in
the level of the series, particularly those associated with
general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent
seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new
seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using
all relevant data, up to and including the data for the current
month.
Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the
JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than
is customary. The historical data, therefore, may be subject to
larger than normal revisions. Since the seasonal patterns in
economic data series typically emerge over time, the standard
use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these

effects requires longer series than are currently available. As
a result, the stable seasonal filter option is used in the seasonal
adjustment of the JOLTS data. When calculating seasonal
factors, this filter takes an average for each calendar month
after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes
that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption
until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal
filter is no longer needed, other program features also may be
introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended
diagnostic testing. Additionally, it is expected that more series,
such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may
be seasonally adjusted when more data are available.
Reliability of the estimates
JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and
nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire
population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample
estimates may differ from the “true” population values they
represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this
variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.
BLS analysis is generally conducted at the 90-percent level of
confidence. That means that there is a 90-percent chance, or
level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will
differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the “true”
population value because of sampling error. Estimates of
sampling errors are available upon request.
The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling
error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including
the failure to include a segment of the population, the inability
to obtain data from all units in the sample, the inability or
unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis,
mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or
processing of the data, and errors from the employment
benchmark data used in estimation.
JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to
exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.
Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in
payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations,
especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period for
payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the
month, while the reference period for hires and separations is
the calendar month; and 2) payroll employment can vary from
month to month simply because part-time and on-call workers
may not always work during the pay period that includes the
12th of the month. Additionally, research has found that some
reporters systematically underreport separations relative to
hires due to a number of factors, including the nature of their
payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be
about 2 percent or less over a 12-month period.
Other information
Information in this release will be made available to sensory
impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200;
TDD message referral phone: 1-800-877-8339.

1

2

Table 1. Job openings levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
3

Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

May

Rates

Mar.
2005

Apr.
2005

May

May

2005p

Total4……………………………………………………………………………………………..
3,181 3,507 3,385 3,569 3,598

3,576

170
258
624
646
616
440
383

615
1,447
737
806

2004

Dec.
2004

Jan.
2005

Feb.
2005

2004

Dec.
2004

Jan.
2005

Feb.
2005

Mar.
2005

Apr.
2005

2005p

May

3,465

2.4

2.6

2.5

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.5

3,178
113
259
627
691
608
457
396

3,090
111
236
622
645
604
465
374

2.5
1.6
1.7
2.1
3.4
3.1
3.1
1.6

2.7
1.8
1.8
2.1
4.0
3.1
3.4
1.8

2.7
1.8
1.7
2.2
3.9
3.2
3.3
1.6

2.8
1.8
1.7
2.5
3.5
3.4
3.4
1.8

2.8
2.3
1.8
2.4
3.7
3.5
3.4
1.7

2.8
1.5
1.8
2.4
3.9
3.4
3.5
1.8

2.7
1.5
1.6
2.4
3.7
3.4
3.5
1.7

602
1,414
742
818

548
1,335
798
801

2.1
2.6
2.2
2.5

2.4
2.8
2.3
2.7

2.3
2.8
2.2
2.4

2.3
2.9
2.3
2.8

2.4
3.0
2.3
2.7

2.3
2.9
2.3
2.7

2.1
2.7
2.5
2.7

INDUSTRY
4

Total private ………………………………………………………………………………..
2,819 3,106 3,020 3,160 3,212
Construction………………………………………………………………
114
132
127

133
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
241
266
252
252
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………
549
561
564
668
Professional and business services…………………….
582
699
682
607
Education and health services………………………………………….
540
557
560
602
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………
394
450
434
447
Government……………………………………………………………………………..
359
396
346
404
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
546
620
602

606

South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,224 1,329 1,342 1,399
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
698
740
716
745
West…………………………………………………………………………..
720
792
718

1

823

Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day

the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,

of the month.
2
The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business

New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and

day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings.
3
Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent

Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi,

seasonal adjustment of the various series.
4
Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities,

and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan,

and other services, not shown separately.
P
= preliminary.

and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii,

Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia,
North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota,
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington,

NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise

and Wyoming.

Table 2. Hires levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels3 (in thousands)
Industry and region

May

Jan.
2005

Feb.
2005

Rates

Mar.
2005

Apr.
2005

2005

Total4……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,339 4,639 4,709 4,760 4,841

4,538

414
334
1,047
895
472
798
336

856
1,922
1,034
1,036

2004

Dec.
2004

May

May
2004

Dec.
2004

Jan.
2005

Feb.
2005

Mar.
2005

Apr.
2005

2005p

4,708

3.3

3.5

3.6

3.6

3.6

3.4

3.5

4,212
412
319
1,042
792
487
742
329

4,366
422
345
1,036
834
460
750
338

3.7
5.3
2.4
3.7
4.2
2.6
6.3
1.3

3.9
5.2
2.3
3.8
5.3
2.6
6.6
1.4

3.9
4.8
2.1
4.1
5.3
2.6
6.6
1.6

4.0
6.0
2.3
4.1
5.1
2.9
6.1
1.5

4.0
5.8
2.3
4.1
5.3
2.7
6.3
1.5

3.8
5.7
2.2
4.0
4.7
2.8
5.8
1.5

3.9
5.8
2.4
4.0
5.0
2.7
5.9
1.6

825
1,701
1,020
1,037

768
1,834
1,113
1,005

3.1
3.5
3.2
3.3

3.4
3.8
3.3
3.4

3.0
4.0
3.5
3.3

3.2
4.0
3.5
3.7

3.4
4.1
3.3
3.6

3.3
3.6
3.3
3.6

3.0
3.9
3.5
3.4

p

May

INDUSTRY
4

Total private ………………………………………………………………………………..
4,057 4,337 4,374 4,430 4,497
Construction………………………………………………………………
369
368
339

430
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
347
324
307
336
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………
954
986 1,056 1,055
Professional and business services…………………….
691
878
882
853
Education and health services………………………………………….
445
452
445
500
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………
790
834
826
771
Government……………………………………………………………………………..
276
307
341
329
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
769
858
762

820

South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,645 1,770 1,880 1,867
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
982 1,043 1,092 1,081
West…………………………………………………………………………..
957
970
959 1,069

1

Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.

2

The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

3

Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.

4

Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.

P

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

1

2

Table 3. Total separations levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
3

Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

May

Rates

Mar.
2005

Apr.
2005

May

May

2005p

Total4……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,254 4,435 4,352 4,295 4,502

4,562

303
360
980
924
445
743
267

802
1,763
1,051
926

2004

Dec.
2004

Jan.
2005

Feb.
2005

2004

Dec.
2004

Jan.
2005

Feb.
2005

Mar.
2005

Apr.
2005

2005p

May

4,425

3.2

3.3

3.3

3.2

3.4

3.4

3.3

4,306
421
369
1,018
869
433
709
256

4,180
392
357
946
824
413
746
251

3.6
5.6
2.6
3.8
4.0
2.3
5.9
1.3

3.7
5.0
2.5
4.1
5.0
2.2
6.0
1.3

3.7
5.9
2.5
3.4
5.0
2.1
6.6
1.2

3.6
5.7
2.4
3.7
4.6
2.3
6.3
1.2

3.8
4.2
2.5
3.8
5.5
2.6
5.9
1.2

3.9
5.8
2.6
3.9
5.2
2.5
5.6
1.2

3.7
5.4
2.5
3.7
4.9
2.4
5.9
1.2

807
1,766
982
1,006

685
1,728
976
984

3.0
3.4
2.8
3.6

3.0
3.6
3.1
3.3

3.1
3.7
3.1
3.3

2.9
3.5
3.0
3.3

3.2
3.7
3.4
3.2

3.2
3.7
3.1
3.4

2.7
3.6
3.1
3.4

Jan.
2005

Feb.
2005

Mar.
2005

Apr.
2005

2005p

INDUSTRY
4

Total private ………………………………………………………………………………..
3,986 4,146 4,091 4,035 4,237
Construction………………………………………………………………
388
355
417

403
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
370
353
361
341
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………
976 1,062
882
940
Professional and business services…………………….
648
833
836
772
Education and health services………………………………………….
390
375
356
389
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………
736
758
832
790
Government……………………………………………………………………………..
274
274
258
260
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
753
773
773

732

South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,594 1,707 1,747 1,647
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
881
986
981
937
West…………………………………………………………………………..
1,026
953
964

961

1

Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.

2

The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

3

Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.

4

Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.

P

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Table 4. Quits levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels3 (in thousands)
Industry and region

May

Rates

Mar.
2005

Apr.
2005

May

May

2005p

2004

Dec.
2004

Total4……………………………………………………………………………………………..
2,276 2,495 2,530 2,307 2,516

2,520

2,493

1.7

1.9

1.9

1.7

1.9

1.9

1.9

150
186
583
424
280
458
124

2,395
146
178
577
417
272
506
125

2,370
151
168
589
413
260
494
122

2.0
2.0
1.2
2.1
1.9
1.4
3.8
.6

2.1
2.3
1.4
2.2
2.5
1.4
4.0
.6

2.2
2.4
1.3
2.2
2.5
1.3
4.1
.6

2.0
2.0
1.3
2.0
2.4
1.5
3.8
.5

2.1
2.1
1.3
2.3
2.5
1.6
3.6
.6

2.1
2.0
1.2
2.2
2.5
1.6
4.0
.6

2.1
2.1
1.2
2.3
2.5
1.5
3.9
.6

410
1,003
561
562

446
992
540
573

364
1,024
556
544

1.3
1.9
1.6
1.9

1.5
2.2
1.7
1.9

1.7
2.2
1.7
1.8

1.3
1.9
1.6
1.9

1.6
2.1
1.8
1.9

1.8
2.1
1.7
2.0

1.4
2.2
1.8
1.9

2004

Dec.
2004

Jan.
2005

Feb.
2005

May

INDUSTRY
Total private4………………………………………………………………………………..
2,148 2,366 2,412 2,192 2,383
Construction………………………………………………………………
142
162
171

139
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
170
194
185
181
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………
533
570
563
512
Professional and business services…………………….
311
415
417
410
Education and health services………………………………………….
229
232
230
259
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………
480
506
516
474
Government……………………………………………………………………………..
128
129
124
117
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
331
392
424

340

South…………………………………………………………………………………..
896 1,021 1,053
914
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
502
544
539
509
West…………………………………………………………………………..
545
536
530

550

1

Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.

2

The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

3

Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.

4

Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.

P

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Table 5. Job openings levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

Rates

May

Apr.

May

May

Apr.

May

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

3,761

2.6

2.7

2.7

3,349
9
13
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
151
141
143
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
272
266
265
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
168
178
176
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
104
88
89
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
577
631
654
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
111
126
137
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
379
413
381
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....87
92
135
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
83
78
79
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
199
226
224
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
163
175
168
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
36
51
57
Professional and business services………………………………….
627
707
683
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
559
604
630
Educational services……………………………………………………….
47
62
72
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
513
542
558
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
449
543
533
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
64
67
53
Accommodations and food services………………………….
385
476
481
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
137
118
125

2.7
.9
2.1
1.9
1.8
1.9
2.2
1.9
2.5
1.8
2.6
2.4
2.7
1.7
3.7
3.2
1.6
3.5
3.4
3.3
3.4
2.4

2.9
1.4
2.0
1.8
1.9
1.6
2.4
2.2
2.7
1.8
2.4
2.7
2.8
2.4
4.0
3.3
2.0
3.6
4.1
3.6
4.2
2.1

2.9
2.0
1.9
1.8
1.9
1.6
2.5
2.3
2.5
2.7
2.4
2.7
2.7
2.6
3.9
3.5
2.4
3.7
4.0
2.7
4.2
2.2

412
62
350

1.8
1.8
1.8

1.7
2.1
1.7

1.8
2.2
1.8

607
1,418
843
893

2.4
2.7
2.3
2.7

2.4
3.0
2.4
2.8

2.3
2.9
2.6
2.9

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
3,456
3,711
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
3,059
3,323
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
5

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
397
388
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
49
58
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
348
330
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
619
632
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,305
1,465
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
730
774
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
802
840

1

Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.

2

The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings.

P

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Table 6. Hires levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

Rates

May

Apr.

May

May

Apr.

May

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

5,354

3.7

3.6

4.0

5,007
28
25
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
461
541
541
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
391
326
398
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
243
193
248
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
148
132
149
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
1,044
1,031
1,131
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
147
167
165
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
746
709
792
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
151
155
174
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
80
80
82
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
235
174
268
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
118
117
166
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
117
57
102
Professional and business services………………………………….
735
895
892
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
432
431
447
Educational services……………………………………………………….
41
45
45
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
391
386
403
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
1,054
853
992
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
193
145
160
Accommodations and food services………………………….
862
709
832
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
197
176
230

4.2
3.7
6.6
2.7
2.7
2.7
4.1
2.6
5.0
3.1
2.6
2.9
2.0
5.6
4.5
2.5
1.5
2.8
8.3
10.1
8.0
3.6

4.1
4.6
7.6
2.3
2.2
2.5
4.0
2.9
4.7
3.2
2.6
2.1
1.9
2.7
5.3
2.5
1.5
2.7
6.7
8.1
6.5
3.2

4.5
4.1
7.4
2.8
2.8
2.8
4.4
2.9
5.2
3.5
2.6
3.3
2.7
4.8
5.3
2.6
1.6
2.8
7.7
8.5
7.5
4.2

347
44
304

1.3
1.6
1.2

1.1
1.3
1.1

1.6
1.6
1.6

891
2,052
1,326
1,085

3.6
3.9
3.7
3.6

3.2
3.7
3.7
3.7

3.5
4.3
4.2
3.7

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,935
4,774
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
4,653
4,535
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
22

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
282
239
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
45
34
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
238
205
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
905
803
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,839
1,749
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
1,153
1,146
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
1,038
1,075

1

Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.

2

The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

P

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Table 7. Total separations levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Rates
Industry and region

May

Apr.

May

May

Apr.

May

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

4,368

3.2

3.2

3.3

4,104
15
18
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
344
355
348
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
351
366
337
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
202
242
226
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
150
124
111
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
1,001
891
966
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
183
135
158
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
645
631
656
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
172
125
152
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
71
80
72
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
184
159
190
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
110
99
101
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
74
61
89
Professional and business services………………………………….
655
890
816
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
404
394
430
Educational services……………………………………………………….
59
38
58
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
345
356
371
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
713
692
720
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
81
88
85
Accommodations and food services………………………….
632
604
635
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
189
196
207

3.6
3.2
4.9
2.4
2.3
2.8
3.9
3.2
4.3
3.6
2.3
2.3
1.8
3.5
4.0
2.4
2.1
2.4
5.6
4.2
5.9
3.5

3.6
2.5
5.0
2.6
2.7
2.3
3.5
2.4
4.2
2.6
2.5
2.0
1.6
2.9
5.3
2.3
1.3
2.5
5.5
4.9
5.6
3.6

3.7
2.9
4.8
2.4
2.5
2.1
3.7
2.8
4.3
3.1
2.3
2.3
1.7
4.2
4.8
2.5
2.0
2.6
5.6
4.5
5.8
3.8

264
26
238

1.3
1.3
1.3

.9
1.0
.8

1.2
.9
1.2

607
1,823
950
988

2.7
3.6
2.8
3.5

2.8
3.6
2.8
3.2

2.4
3.8
3.0
3.4

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,222
4,231
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
3,931
4,039
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
19

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
291
192
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
35
28
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
256
164
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
673
723
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,673
1,694
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
860
870
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
1,016
944

1

Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.

2

The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

P

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Table 8. Quits levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

Rates

May

Apr.

May

May

Apr.

May

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

2,625

1.8

1.8

2.0

2,486
9
12
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
143
148
152
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
179
183
176
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
112
112
108
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
67
71
67
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
551
545
616
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
101
71
71
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
392
419
478
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....58
55
67
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
33
51
50
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
139
89
125
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
78
55
65
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
62
34
59
Professional and business services………………………………….
315
399
412
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
243
254
276
Educational services……………………………………………………….
27
21
31
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
216
234
245
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
514
493
529
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
37
44
49
Accommodations and food services………………………….
476
449
480
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
126
150
139

2.0
1.1
2.0
1.2
1.3
1.2
2.2
1.8
2.6
1.2
1.1
1.7
1.3
2.9
1.9
1.4
1.0
1.5
4.0
2.0
4.4
2.3

2.1
1.4
2.1
1.3
1.3
1.3
2.1
1.2
2.8
1.1
1.6
1.1
.9
1.6
2.4
1.5
.7
1.6
3.9
2.5
4.1
2.7

2.2
1.9
2.1
1.2
1.2
1.3
2.4
1.2
3.2
1.3
1.6
1.5
1.1
2.8
2.4
1.6
1.1
1.7
4.1
2.6
4.4
2.5

139
11
128

.7
.5
.7

.4
.4
.5

.6
.4
.7

367
1,098
592
567

1.4
2.0
1.7
2.0

1.6
2.1
1.6
1.8

1.4
2.3
1.9
1.9

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
2,396
2,420
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
2,251
2,321
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
7

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
145
99
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
15
11
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
130
89
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
345
399
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
946
978
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
533
503
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
572
540

1

Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.

2

The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

P

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Rates
Industry and region

May

Apr.

May

May

Apr.

May

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

1,451

1.1

1.2

1.1

1,376
5
4
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
190
194
180
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
136
150
133
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
65
105
95
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
71
45
38
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
382
292
299
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
76
61
80
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
206
182
150
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....99
49
70
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
33
19
19
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
30
51
54
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
21
28
26
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
9
23
28
Professional and business services………………………………….
296
446
341
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
131
118
129
Educational services……………………………………………………….
28
13
25
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
103
105
104
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
169
179
163
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
39
42
35
Accommodations and food services………………………….
130
137
128
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
44
42
55

1.3
1.4
2.7
.9
.7
1.3
1.5
1.3
1.4
2.1
1.1
.4
.4
.4
1.8
.8
1.0
.7
1.3
2.0
1.2
.8

1.3
.7
2.7
1.1
1.2
.9
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.0
.6
.6
.5
1.1
2.6
.7
.4
.7
1.4
2.4
1.3
.8

1.2
.6
2.5
.9
1.1
.7
1.2
1.4
1.0
1.4
.6
.7
.4
1.3
2.0
.7
.9
.7
1.3
1.9
1.2
1.0

75
8
67

.4
.2
.4

.2
.3
.2

.3
.3
.3

188
636
296
331

1.0
1.4
.8
1.3

1.0
1.3
1.0
1.2

.7
1.3
.9
1.1

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
1,509
1,549
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
1,420
1,495
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
8

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
89
54
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
6
7
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
83
47
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
249
265
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
632
624
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
264
307
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
364
353

1

Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month.

2

The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

P

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Table 10. Other separations levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Rates
Industry and region

May

Apr.

May

May

Apr.

May

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

292

.2

.2

.2

242
3
17
29
23
6
51
7
28
16
4
11
9
2
63
25
2
23
28
1
26
13

.2
.7
.1
.3
.3
.2
.3
.1
.3
.3
.1
.2
.2
.2
.3
.2
.1
.2
.2
.2
.2
.4

.2
.4
.2
.2
.3
.2
.2
.1
.2
.4
.3
.2
.3
.1
.3
.1
.2
.1
.2
.1
.2
.1

.2
.4
.2
.2
.3
.1
.2
.1
.2
.3
.1
.1
.1
.1
.4
.1
.1
.2
.2
.1
.2
.2

50
7
43

.3
.5
.2

.2
.4
.1

.2
.3
.2

52
89
62
90

.3
.2
.2
.3

.2
.2
.2
.2

.2
.2
.2
.3

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
317
263
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
260
224
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
4

2
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
10
14
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
36
33
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
25
25
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
11
8
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
68
54
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
7
3
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
47
30
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....15
21
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
4
9
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
14
19
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
11
16
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
3
3
Professional and business services………………………………….
44
46
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
29
22
Educational services……………………………………………………….
4
5
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
25
17
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
30
20
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
4
2
Accommodations and food services………………………….
26
18
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
19
4
Government……………………………………………………………………………..
57
39
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
14
10
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
43
29
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
79
60
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
95
92
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
62
61
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
80
51

1

Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.

2

The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

P

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.