View original document

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

1

Technical information:

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

Media contact:

USDL 06-1200
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Tuesday, July 11, 2006

691-5902

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: MAY 2006
The hires rate increased, while the job openings and total separations rates were 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
June 2003 - May 2006

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,
Percent
June 2003 - May 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 May 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 and has been
essentially unchanged since November 2005. There were no significant over-the-month changes in the job
openings rate in any industry or region. The industries with the highest seasonally adjusted job openings rates
in May 2006 were professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality (3.8 percent each), and
education and health services (3.5 percent). (See table 1.)
Over the year, the job openings rate increased in several industries and in three of the four regions—the
Northeast, South, and West. None of the industries or regions experienced a significant decrease in the job
openings rate from the prior year. (See table 5.)
Hires
The hires rate increased to 3.7 percent in May, offsetting declines in the previous 2 months. Hires are
any additions to the payroll during the month. In May, the hires rate increased in manufacturing, professional
and business services, and in the Midwest region. There were no significant declines in the hires rate in any

2
Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted
Job openings
Industry

May
2005

1

Total ........................................................... 3,364
Total private 1................................... .... 3,005
Construction .....................................
114
Manufacturing ................................
235
Trade, transportation, and
utilities ...........................................
613
Professional and business
services .........................................
623
Education and health services .....
597
Leisure and hospitality ..................
447
Government ..........................................
361

Hires
Apr.
2006

May
2006 p

May
2005

4,070
3,603
138
323

3,989
3,542
125
308

Levels (in thousands)
4,649
4,962
4,778
4,454
4,301
4,586
434
376
365
344
328
377

4,543
4,290
405
384

4,495
4,203
373
346

4,654
4,339
461
382

672

706

1,043

1,029

1,047

1,013

1,022

1,005

748
674
485
467

677
643
518
452

862
469
782
325

858
481
775
361

1,004
518
810
380

794
427
762
260

790
437
770
302

854
440
742
321

Apr.
2006

May
2006 p

Total separations
May
May
Apr.
2006
2006 p
2005

Rates (percent)
1

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

2.5
2.6
1.5
1.6

2.9
3.1
1.8
2.2

2.9
3.0
1.6
2.1

3.6
4.0
6.0
2.4

3.4
3.8
5.0
2.3

3.7
4.1
4.9
2.6

3.4
3.8
5.6
2.7

3.3
3.7
5.0
2.4

3.4
3.8
6.1
2.7

2.3

2.5

2.6

4.0

4.0

4.0

3.9

3.9

3.9

3.6
3.3
3.4
1.6

4.2
3.7
3.6
2.1

3.8
3.5
3.8
2.0

5.1
2.7
6.1
1.5

5.0
2.7
6.0
1.6

5.8
2.9
6.2
1.7

4.7
2.5
6.0
1.2

4.6
2.5
5.9
1.4

5.0
2.5
5.7
1.5

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

industry or region. The seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in the leisure and hospitality industry
(6.2 percent). (See table 2.)
From May 2005 to May 2006, the hires rate rose in nondurable goods manufacturing, professional
and business services, and the federal government and declined in construction. The hires rate did not
change significantly over the year in any geographic region. (See table 6.)
Separations
The total separations, or turnover, rate was little changed at 3.4 percent in May. Separations are
terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In May, the total separations rate
increased in construction; all other industries and regions were about unchanged. (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 to 2.0 percent in May. The quits rate increased in the construction and manufacturing industries and in the South region. In May, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest in the
leisure and hospitality industry (4.1 percent), which also had the highest hires rate. (See table 4.)

3

Over the year, the quits rate grew in several industries and in the South region. The quits rate declined
in real estate and rental and leasing as well as in other services. (See table 8.)
The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not
seasonally adjusted. From May 2005 to May 2006, the layoffs and discharges rate was little changed at
1.0 percent. For May 2006, the construction industry had the highest layoffs and discharges rate (2.3 percent). From May 2005 to May 2006, the other separations rate increased to 0.3 percent. (See tables 9
and 10.)
Flows in the Labor Market
Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the 12 months ending in
May 2006, hires have averaged 4.8 million per month and separations have averaged 4.5 million per month
(not seasonally adjusted). The comparable figures for the prior 12-month period 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 June 2006 is scheduled to be issued on Wednesday,
August 9, 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

May

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

May

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

2005

2005

2006

2006

2006

2006

2006p

2005

2005

2006

2006

2006

2006

2006p

Total4……………………………………………………………………………………………..
3,364 3,941 3,981 3,994 4,089

4,070

3,989

2.5

2.8

2.9

2.9

2.9

2.9

2.9

3,633
144
318
651
702
692
506
458

3,603
138
323
672
748
674
485
467

3,542
125
308
706
677
643
518
452

2.6
1.5
1.6
2.3
3.6
3.3
3.4
1.6

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

3.1
1.9
2.2
2.4
3.9
3.8
3.8
2.0

3.1
1.8
2.2
2.5
4.2
3.7
3.6
2.1

3.0
1.6
2.1
2.6
3.8
3.5
3.8
2.0

732
1,634
721
985

672
1,600
770
1,022

663
1,627
762
960

2.1
2.7
2.4
2.6

2.8
3.3
2.3
3.0

2.8
3.1
2.3
3.0

2.7
3.1
2.5
3.1

2.8
3.3
2.2
3.2

2.6
3.2
2.4
3.3

2.5
3.3
2.4
3.1

INDUSTRY
4

Total private ………………………………………………………………………………..
3,005 3,509 3,533 3,531
Construction………………………………………………………………
114
170
114

121
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
235
313
324
318
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………
613
661
687
660
Professional and business services…………………….
623
750
777
716
Education and health services………………………………………….
597
618
627
640
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………
447
522
507
587
Government……………………………………………………………………………..
361
435
449
460
REGION 5
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
550
718
740

707

South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,320 1,612 1,550 1,547
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
749
738
745
797
West…………………………………………………………………………..
773
919
928

1

957

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

May

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

May

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

2005

2005

2006

2006

2006

2006

2006p

2005

2005

2006

2006

2006

2006

2006p

4,649

4,962

3.6

3.5

3.7

3.7

3.6

3.4

3.7

4,503
344
341
1,103
922
435
899
397

4,301
376
328
1,029
858
481
775
361

4,586
365
377
1,047
1,004
518
810
380

4.0
6.0
2.4
4.0
5.1
2.7
6.1
1.5

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
4.6
2.4
4.2
5.4
2.5
6.9
1.8

3.8
5.0
2.3
4.0
5.0
2.7
6.0
1.6

4.1
4.9
2.6
4.0
5.8
2.9
6.2
1.7

914
1,803
1,117
1,127

849
1,777
965
1,152

834
1,874
1,136
1,115

3.2
3.7
3.6
3.7

2.8
3.8
3.3
3.8

2.9
4.1
3.3
4.0

3.2
4.3
3.3
3.6

3.6
3.7
3.5
3.8

3.3
3.7
3.1
3.9

3.3
3.9
3.6
3.7

4
Total ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,778 4,694 4,941 4,954 4,884

INDUSTRY
Total private4………………………………………………………………………………..
4,454 4,397 4,584 4,578
Construction………………………………………………………………
434
426
379

403
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
344
307
366
333
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………
1,043 1,011 1,177 1,117
Professional and business services…………………….
862
849
953
841
Education and health services………………………………………….
469
467
446
435
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………
782
853
847 1,019
Government……………………………………………………………………………..
325
293
352
379
REGION 5
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
805
698
727

814

South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,766 1,817 1,946 2,061
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
1,110 1,038 1,043 1,045
West…………………………………………………………………………..
1,101 1,127 1,176

1,083

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
Levels3 (in thousands)
Industry and region

Rates

May
2005

Dec.
2005

Jan.
2006

Feb.
2006

Mar.
2006

Apr.
2006

Total 4……………………………………………… 4,543

4,359

4,285

4,531

4,681

4,067
348
355
1,027
735
400
843
270

3,995
374
353
880
780
353
848
300

4,252
335
380
997
826
403
881
285

685
1,759
934
997

701
1,653
987
970

736
1,694
1,032
1,054

May
2006p

May
2005

Dec.
2005

Jan.
2006

Feb.
2006

Mar.
2006

Apr.
2006

2006p

May

4,495

4,654

3.4

3.2

3.2

3.4

3.5

3.3

3.4

4,360
422
427
989
798
399
769
326

4,203
373
346
1,022
790
437
770
302

4,339
461
382
1,005
854
440
742
321

3.8
5.6
2.7
3.9
4.7
2.5
6.0
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

3.9
5.6
3.0
3.8
4.6
2.3
5.9
1.5

3.7
5.0
2.4
3.9
4.6
2.5
5.9
1.4

3.8
6.1
2.7
3.9
5.0
2.5
5.7
1.5

714
1,810
1,014
1,188

711
1,710
992
1,116

781
1,744
1,052
1,075

2.9
3.7
3.2
3.6

2.7
3.7
3.0
3.4

2.8
3.4
3.1
3.3

2.9
3.5
3.3
3.5

2.8
3.8
3.2
4.0

2.8
3.5
3.2
3.7

3.1
3.6
3.3
3.6

Dec.
2005

Jan.
2006

Feb.
2006

Mar.
2006

Apr.
2006

2006p

INDUSTRY
Total private4…………………………………… 4,290

405
Manufacturing………………………………… 384
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 1,013
Professional and business services………
794
Education and health services……………… 427
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
762
Government……………………………………… 260
Construction…………………………………

REGION 5
Northeast……………………………………… 739
South………………………………………… 1,741
Midwest………………………………………

985

West…………………………………………… 1,059

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.

Table 4. Quits levels 1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
3
Levels (in thousands)

Industry and region

Rates

May
2005

Dec.
2005

Jan.
2006

Feb.
2006

Mar.
2006

Apr.
2006

May
2006p

May
2005

May

Total 4……………………………………………… 2,534

2,567

2,577

2,663

2,763

2,541

2,737

1.9

1.9

1.9

2.0

2.0

1.9

2.0

2,428
189
184
634
365
254
558
139

2,435
179
196
551
415
225
569
143

2,526
153
202
602
422
279
607
139

2,606
182
205
598
426
267
561
156

2,383
167
175
613
409
253
535
159

2,579
208
207
624
444
280
529
159

2.2
2.3
1.2
2.3
2.4
1.5
3.9
.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

2.3
2.4
1.4
2.3
2.5
1.5
4.3
.7

2.1
2.2
1.2
2.4
2.4
1.4
4.1
.7

2.3
2.8
1.5
2.4
2.6
1.6
4.1
.7

390
1,069
481
618

369
1,068
571
569

368
1,114
600
567

383
1,129
619
642

370
1,026
575
593

386
1,132
590
620

1.5
2.1
1.8
2.0

1.5
2.2
1.5
2.1

1.5
2.2
1.8
1.9

1.4
2.3
1.9
1.9

1.5
2.3
2.0
2.2

1.5
2.1
1.8
2.0

1.5
2.3
1.9
2.1

INDUSTRY
4

Total private …………………………………… 2,406

164
Manufacturing………………………………… 168
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 602
Professional and business services………
411
Education and health services……………… 257
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
494
Government……………………………………… 127
Construction…………………………………

REGION 5
Northeast……………………………………… 380
South………………………………………… 1,009
Midwest………………………………………
West……………………………………………

551
591

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

May

Apr.

May

May

Apr.

May

2005

2006

2006p

2005

2006

2006p

4,285

2.6

3.0

3.1

3,794
11
15
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
143
168
155
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
254
329
332
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
166
233
222
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
88
96
110
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
636
673
736
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
142
140
159
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
374
395
440
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
120
138
137
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
74
142
138
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
220
314
307
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
161
251
245
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
58
64
63
Professional and business services………………………………….
639
768
685
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
627
686
675
Educational services……………………………………………………….
70
106
82
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
557
580
593
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
505
574
585
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
64
101
66
Accommodations and food services………………………….
441
473
520
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
116
101
164

2.8
2.0
1.9
1.8
1.8
1.6
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.3
2.6
2.6
2.7
3.7
3.5
2.4
3.7
3.7
3.2
3.8
2.1

3.2
1.6
2.2
2.3
2.5
1.8
2.5
2.3
2.6
2.7
4.4
3.7
3.9
2.9
4.3
3.7
3.4
3.8
4.3
5.1
4.1
1.8

3.2
2.2
2.0
2.3
2.4
2.1
2.8
2.6
2.8
2.7
4.3
3.6
3.8
2.8
3.8
3.7
2.7
3.8
4.2
3.2
4.4
2.9

491
48
443

1.7
1.5
1.8

2.1
1.7
2.1

2.2
1.8
2.2

726
1,717
790
1,051

2.4
2.8
2.4
2.8

2.7
3.3
2.5
3.5

2.8
3.4
2.4
3.4

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
3,617
4,236
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
3,224
3,766
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
12

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
393
470
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
41
48
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
352
422
REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
608
694
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,387
1,661
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
774
810
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
847
1,070

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

May

Apr.

May

May

Apr.

May

2005

2006

2006p

2005

2006

2006p

5,675

4.1

3.6

4.2

5,285
27
24
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
559
495
464
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
390
333
437
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
254
216
272
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
137
117
165
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
1,144
1,011
1,144
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
160
146
161
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
801
725
814
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
183
140
169
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
85
79
101
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
258
194
234
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
159
114
135
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
99
80
99
Professional and business services………………………………….
914
935
1,101
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
459
433
511
Educational services……………………………………………………….
45
69
59
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
414
364
452
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
1,032
898
1,061
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
198
181
209
Accommodations and food services………………………….
834
717
851
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
245
199
209

4.6
4.4
7.6
2.7
2.8
2.6
4.4
2.8
5.3
3.7
2.8
3.2
2.7
4.7
5.4
2.6
1.6
2.9
7.9
10.1
7.6
4.5

4.1
4.1
6.7
2.3
2.4
2.3
3.9
2.5
4.8
2.8
2.6
2.3
1.9
3.7
5.4
2.4
2.3
2.5
7.0
9.7
6.5
3.7

4.7
3.5
6.1
3.1
3.0
3.2
4.4
2.7
5.4
3.4
3.3
2.8
2.2
4.6
6.4
2.9
2.0
3.0
8.0
10.5
7.6
3.9

390
74
316

1.5
1.6
1.5

1.2
2.0
1.1

1.7
2.7
1.6

966
2,125
1,371
1,213

3.7
4.2
4.2
4.0

3.3
3.7
3.4
3.9

3.8
4.4
4.3
4.0

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
5,444
4,871
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
5,113
4,604
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
27

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
331
266
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
43
53
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
288
214
REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
931
833
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,992
1,794
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
1,320
1,080
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
1,201
1,164

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

May

Apr.

May

May

Apr.

May

2005

2006

2006p

2005

2006

2006p

4,631

3.3

3.1

3.4

4,291
22
12
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
356
299
407
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
367
341
369
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
259
183
199
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
108
157
169
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
1,035
892
1,031
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
156
135
140
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
691
622
750
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
187
135
141
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
76
95
81
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
190
182
205
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
108
125
148
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
81
57
56
Professional and business services………………………………….
767
814
860
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
449
406
471
Educational services……………………………………………………….
65
37
85
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
384
369
386
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
732
745
702
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
80
83
56
Accommodations and food services………………………….
652
663
645
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
223
134
155

3.8
2.8
4.9
2.6
2.9
2.1
4.0
2.7
4.6
3.8
2.5
2.3
1.8
3.8
4.6
2.6
2.3
2.7
5.6
4.1
5.9
4.1

3.5
3.4
4.1
2.4
2.0
3.0
3.5
2.3
4.1
2.7
3.1
2.2
2.0
2.7
4.7
2.3
1.2
2.5
5.8
4.4
6.0
2.5

3.8
1.8
5.4
2.6
2.2
3.2
4.0
2.4
4.9
2.8
2.6
2.5
2.4
2.6
5.0
2.6
2.9
2.6
5.3
2.8
5.7
2.8

340
65
275

1.2
1.0
1.3

1.0
2.0
.9

1.5
2.4
1.4

707
1,844
1,022
1,059

2.6
3.8
3.0
3.5

2.5
3.4
2.7
3.4

2.8
3.8
3.2
3.5

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,485
4,158
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
4,213
3,929
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
18

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
272
229
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
27
53
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
245
176
REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
652
643
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,834
1,628
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
952
858
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
1,047
1,029

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

May

Apr.

May

May

Apr.

May

2005

2006

2006p

2005

2006

2006p

2,868

2.0

1.8

2.1

2,687
11
8
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
167
159
213
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
173
176
215
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
108
108
111
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
65
68
104
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
634
568
661
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
72
79
69
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
495
405
503
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....66
84
90
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
51
66
65
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
123
92
130
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
68
65
98
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
54
28
32
Professional and business services………………………………….
423
402
469
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
273
239
299
Educational services……………………………………………………….
30
18
44
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
243
222
256
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
514
510
541
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
44
42
34
Accommodations and food services………………………….
470
469
507
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
128
70
85

2.2
1.9
2.3
1.2
1.2
1.2
2.5
1.3
3.3
1.4
1.7
1.5
1.1
2.6
2.5
1.6
1.0
1.7
4.0
2.2
4.3
2.4

2.0
1.6
2.2
1.2
1.2
1.3
2.2
1.4
2.7
1.7
2.2
1.1
1.1
1.3
2.3
1.3
.6
1.5
3.9
2.2
4.2
1.3

2.4
1.3
2.8
1.5
1.2
2.0
2.5
1.2
3.3
1.8
2.1
1.6
1.6
1.5
2.7
1.7
1.5
1.7
4.1
1.7
4.5
1.6

181
30
151

.6
.4
.7

.6
1.0
.5

.8
1.1
.8

400
1,200
623
646

1.5
2.2
1.9
2.1

1.3
2.1
1.7
1.8

1.6
2.5
2.0
2.1

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
2,641
2,421
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
2,498
2,294
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
12

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
143
127
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
12
27
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
132
100
REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
385
323
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,061
1,012
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
581
532
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
614
552

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

May

Apr.

May

May

Apr.

May

2005

2006

2006p

2005

2006

2006p

1,373

1.1

1.0

1.0

1,273
10
2
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
179
110
173
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
150
131
124
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
113
57
68
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
36
75
56
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
353
247
253
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
77
43
46
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
170
180
173
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
106
23
33
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
20
24
11
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
52
60
51
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
26
32
30
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
26
28
21
Professional and business services………………………………….
277
348
322
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
148
123
150
Educational services……………………………………………………….
32
15
39
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
116
108
111
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
186
205
136
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
35
38
20
Accommodations and food services………………………….
150
166
116
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
82
54
52

1.3
.6
2.4
1.1
1.3
.7
1.4
1.3
1.1
2.2
.7
.6
.4
1.2
1.7
.9
1.1
.8
1.4
1.8
1.4
1.5

1.2
1.5
1.5
.9
.6
1.4
1.0
.7
1.2
.5
.8
.7
.5
1.3
2.0
.7
.5
.7
1.6
2.1
1.5
1.0

1.1
.3
2.3
.9
.8
1.1
1.0
.8
1.1
.7
.4
.6
.5
1.0
1.9
.8
1.3
.7
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0

99
15
84

.4
.3
.4

.3
.4
.2

.4
.6
.4

233
480
327
333

.8
1.4
1.0
1.2

1.0
.9
.8
1.3

.9
1.0
1.0
1.1

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
1,533
1,370
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
1,450
1,313
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
3

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
83
58
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
8
12
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
75
46
REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
211
256
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
675
458
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
299
259
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
348
398

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

May

Apr.

May

May

Apr.

May

2005

2006

2006p

2005

2006

2006p

390

0.2

0.3

0.3

330
2
1
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
11
29
22
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
44
34
29
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
38
19
20
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
7
15
9
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
47
77
117
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
7
12
25
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
26
37
74
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....15
28
18
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
5
4
4
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
16
30
23
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
14
28
20
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
1
1
3
Professional and business services………………………………….
66
64
69
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
28
43
22
Educational services……………………………………………………….
4
4
3
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
25
39
19
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
32
30
25
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
1
3
3
Accommodations and food services………………………….
31
27
23
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
13
9
17

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

.3
.3
.4
.2
.2
.3
.3
.2
.2
.6
.1
.4
.5
.1
.4
.2
.1
.3
.2
.2
.2
.2

.3
.2
.3
.2
.2
.2
.5
.4
.5
.4
.1
.3
.3
.2
.4
.1
.1
.1
.2
.1
.2
.3

60
19
41

.2
.3
.2

.2
.5
.2

.3
.7
.2

74
164
72
80

.2
.2
.2
.3

.3
.3
.2
.3

.3
.3
.2
.3

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
312
367
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
265
323
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
2

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
46
45
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
8
15
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
39
30
REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
56
64
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
98
158
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
72
67
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
85
79

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.

p

= preliminary.