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1 Technical information: (202) 691-5870 http://www.bls.gov/jlt/ Media contact: USDL 07-1032 For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT Tuesday, July 10, 2007 691-5902 JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: MAY 2007 On the last business day of May, 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 rate was unchanged in May, and the hires and total separations rates were essentially unchanged. 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 2004 - May 2007 Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted, Percent June 2004 - May 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 2.5 1.5 2005 2006 2007 2005 2006 2007 Job Openings In May, the job openings rate was unchanged at 2.9 percent. Job openings include only those jobs still open on the last business day of the month. The job openings rate rose over the month in the accommodations and food services industry. 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 May for the following industries: accommodations and food services (4.2 percent), professional and business services (3.7 percent), and education and health services (3.7 percent). (See table 1.) Over the year, the job openings rate increased in construction; nondurable goods manufacturing; health care and social assistance; and accommodations and food services. The rate decreased in wholesale trade and retail trade. 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 Industry Job openings Hires May Apr. May May Apr. May p 2006 2007 2007 p 2006 2007 2007 Levels (in thousands) Total1 ................................................................... 4,037 Total private1......................................................... 3,611 Construction ................................................. 138 Manufacturing .............................................. 310 2 Trade, transportation, and utilities ............ 703 Retail trade ............................................... 405 Professional and business services .......... 739 Education and health services ................... 648 Leisure and hospitality 3................................ 509 Accommodations and food services .. 458 Government 4.......................................................... 438 State and local government ........................... 396 4,170 4,163 3,683 3,703 154 159 350 370 669 614 389 345 735 687 706 713 512 578 453 504 488 470 439 434 5,068 4,618 378 385 1,064 749 1,095 545 811 698 390 332 4,832 4,423 330 350 1,028 706 828 507 903 811 421 333 Total separations May Apr. May p 2006 2007 2007 4,929 4,499 332 357 1,046 721 927 498 905 795 412 334 4,953 4,647 479 385 1,061 780 931 445 831 693 313 253 4,524 4,227 360 380 975 678 805 414 861 720 311 241 4,419 4,089 330 385 943 685 720 431 823 709 317 240 3.6 3.9 4.3 2.5 4.0 4.7 5.2 2.7 6.7 6.9 1.9 1.7 3.6 4.1 6.2 2.7 4.1 5.1 5.3 2.5 6.4 6.2 1.4 1.3 3.3 3.7 4.7 2.7 3.7 4.4 4.5 2.3 6.4 6.3 1.4 1.2 3.2 3.5 4.3 2.7 3.6 4.5 4.0 2.4 6.1 6.1 1.4 1.2 Rates (percent) 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 2.9 3.1 1.8 2.1 2.6 2.6 4.1 3.5 3.7 3.9 2.0 2.0 2.9 3.1 2.0 2.4 2.5 2.5 4.0 3.7 3.7 3.8 2.1 2.2 2.9 3.1 2.0 2.6 2.3 2.2 3.7 3.7 4.1 4.2 2.1 2.2 3.7 4.1 4.9 2.7 4.1 4.9 6.3 3.1 6.2 6.3 1.8 1.7 3.5 3.8 4.3 2.5 3.9 4.6 4.6 2.8 6.7 7.0 1.9 1.7 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. 4 Includes federal government, not shown separately. p = preliminary. Hires The hires rate was little changed at 3.6 percent in May. Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. In May, there were no significant increases or decreases in the hires rate for any of the industries or regions. The seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in May in accommodations and food services (6.9 percent). (See table 2.) From May 2006 to May 2007, the hires rate rose in finance and insurance; accommodations and food services; and federal government. The hires rate fell in durable goods manufacturing; information; professional and business services; and health care and social assistance. The hires rate decreased over the year in the Northeast region. (See table 6.) 3 Separations The total separations, or turnover, rate was little changed at 3.2 percent in May. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. Over the month, none of the industries or regions experienced a significant change in the separations rate. From May 2006 to May 2007, the total separations rate increased in natural resources and mining and in federal government. The total separations rate decreased in construction; trade, transportation, and utilities; professional and business services; educational services; and state and local government. Geographically, the total separations rate fell over the year in both the Northeast and Midwest regions. (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 1.9 percent in May. None of the industries or regions experienced a significant change in the quits rate over the month. In May, the seasonally adjusted quits rate among industries was highest in the accommodations and food services industry (4.4 percent). (See table 4.) Over the year, the quits rate rose in natural resources and mining; durable goods manufacturing; and finance and insurance. The quits rate fell over the year in construction; information; professional and business services; and educational services. Geographically, the quits rate fell over the year in the Northeast and Midwest regions. (See table 8.) The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not seasonally adjusted. For May, the layoffs and discharges rate (0.9 percent) and level (1.3 million) decreased from a year earlier. As is the case in many months, the layoffs and discharges rate in May was highest in arts, entertainment, and recreation (3.0 percent) and construction (2.0 percent). From May 2006 to May 2007, the other separations rate decreased slightly to 0.2 percent, and the level decreased to 311,000. (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 total nonfarm employment levels. The proportion of total separations due to quits fell from 61 percent in February 2001 to 51 percent in August 2003 (seasonally adjusted), and has since risen. In May 2007, quits accounted for 60 percent of total separations. Flows in the Labor Market 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 May 2007, these 5 industries produced 34.6 million hires and 32.5 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. 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. 4 ______________________________ The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for June 2007 is scheduled to be issued on Wednesday, August 8. 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 levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels 3 (in thousands) Jan. Feb. Mar. 2007 2007 2007 Apr. 2007 May 2007p May 2006 Dec. 2006 Jan. 2007 Rates Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007 Apr. 2007 May 2007p 4,037 4,401 4,222 4,149 4,176 4,170 Total 4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,163 2.9 3.1 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 3,703 159 370 614 345 687 713 578 504 470 434 3.1 1.8 2.1 2.6 2.6 4.1 3.5 3.7 3.9 2.0 2.0 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 1.9 2.2 2.5 2.4 4.1 3.6 4.1 4.2 2.1 2.2 3.1 2.0 2.4 2.5 2.5 4.0 3.7 3.7 3.8 2.1 2.2 3.1 2.0 2.6 2.3 2.2 3.7 3.7 4.1 4.2 2.1 2.2 674 1,650 814 1,042 2.6 3.3 2.4 3.0 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 3.3 2.4 3.2 2.6 3.3 2.4 3.3 2.5 3.2 2.5 3.3 Industry and region May 2006 Dec. 2006 INDUSTRY 4 Total private ……………………………………………………………………………….. 3,611 3,928 3,746 3,666 3,702 3,683 Construction……………………………………………………………… 138 107 142 229 152 154 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 310 362 337 330 316 350 Trade, transportation, and utilities 5………………………… 703 767 727 660 677 669 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 405 471 413 378 375 389 Professional and business services……………………. 739 745 707 642 758 735 Education and health services…………………………………………. 648 734 707 670 685 706 Leisure and hospitality 6………………...…………………………… 509 612 552 566 574 512 Accommodations and food services……………………. 458 538 495 511 506 453 Government 7…………………………………………………………………………….. 438 473 477 482 470 488 State and local government…………….………………………………………….………………. 396 427 439 438 430 439 REGION 8 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 673 849 733 717 703 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,670 1,674 1,653 1,631 1,658 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 757 810 822 783 797 West………………………………………………………………………….. 949 1,044 1,005 1,011 1,027 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. 675 1,670 779 1,038 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, 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) Jan. Feb. Mar. 2007 2007 2007 Apr. 2007 May 2007p May 2006 Dec. 2006 Jan. 2007 Rates Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007 Apr. 2007 May 2007p Total 4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5,068 4,959 4,959 4,815 4,815 4,832 4,929 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.6 4,499 332 357 1,046 721 927 498 905 795 412 334 4.1 4.9 2.7 4.1 4.9 6.3 3.1 6.2 6.3 1.8 1.7 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 4.6 2.3 3.8 4.5 4.9 2.7 6.4 6.3 1.8 1.6 3.8 4.3 2.5 3.9 4.6 4.6 2.8 6.7 7.0 1.9 1.7 3.9 4.3 2.5 4.0 4.7 5.2 2.7 6.7 6.9 1.9 1.7 712 1,916 1,098 1,163 3.3 3.9 3.5 3.9 3.0 3.9 3.6 3.9 3.2 3.9 3.7 3.7 2.8 3.7 3.7 3.8 2.9 3.7 3.5 3.8 2.9 3.8 3.4 3.6 2.8 3.9 3.4 3.8 Industry and region May 2006 Dec. 2006 INDUSTRY Total private 4……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,618 4,662 4,607 4,509 4,416 4,423 Construction……………………………………………………………… 378 341 299 298 356 330 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 385 375 369 371 318 350 Trade, transportation, and utilities 5………………………… 1,064 990 1,020 1,018 1,006 1,028 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 749 699 757 695 691 706 Professional and business services……………………. 1,095 963 954 953 881 828 Education and health services…………………………………………. 545 515 508 518 497 507 Leisure and hospitality 6………………...…………………………… 811 969 956 934 867 903 Accommodations and food services……………………. 698 793 825 778 726 811 Government 7…………………………………………………………………………….. 390 371 384 379 404 421 State and local government…………….………………………………………….………………. 332 313 321 317 313 333 REGION 8 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 842 768 833 709 740 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,882 1,900 1,899 1,837 1,835 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 1,096 1,150 1,167 1,184 1,105 West………………………………………………………………………….. 1,172 1,209 1,142 1,156 1,157 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. 2 759 1,894 1,069 1,122 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) Jan. Feb. Mar. 2007 2007 2007 Apr. 2007 May 2007p May 2006 Dec. 2006 Jan. 2007 Rates Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007 Apr. 2007 May 2007p Total 4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,953 4,540 4,602 4,556 4,741 4,524 4,419 3.6 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.2 4,089 330 385 943 685 720 431 823 709 317 240 4.1 6.2 2.7 4.1 5.1 5.3 2.5 6.4 6.2 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 4.5 2.8 3.7 4.4 4.9 2.4 6.3 6.1 1.4 1.2 3.7 4.7 2.7 3.7 4.4 4.5 2.3 6.4 6.3 1.4 1.2 3.5 4.3 2.7 3.6 4.5 4.0 2.4 6.1 6.1 1.4 1.2 618 1,756 978 1,053 3.3 3.9 3.4 3.7 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 3.7 3.2 3.8 2.5 3.9 3.1 3.4 2.4 3.6 3.1 3.4 Industry and region May 2006 Dec. 2006 INDUSTRY 4 Total private ……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,647 4,253 4,296 4,263 4,417 4,227 Construction……………………………………………………………… 479 387 400 322 344 360 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 385 372 399 422 400 380 Trade, transportation, and utilities 5………………………… 1,061 962 973 943 974 975 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 780 707 680 656 682 678 Professional and business services……………………. 931 851 894 862 876 805 Education and health services…………………………………………. 445 430 423 419 429 414 Leisure and hospitality 6………………...…………………………… 831 835 768 835 846 861 Accommodations and food services……………………. 693 757 612 697 702 720 7 Government …………………………………………………………………………….. 313 283 309 294 315 311 State and local government…………….………………………………………….………………. 253 255 254 243 238 241 REGION 8 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 827 670 740 675 667 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,899 1,796 1,783 1,763 1,829 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 1,076 1,054 1,034 1,054 1,006 West………………………………………………………………………….. 1,122 1,036 1,037 1,041 1,165 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, 640 1,904 981 1,040 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) Jan. Feb. Mar. 2007 2007 2007 Apr. 2007 May 2007p May 2006 Dec. 2006 Jan. 2007 Rates Feb. 2007 Mar. 2007 Apr. 2007 May 2007p 2,785 2,759 2,648 2,705 2,763 2,637 Total 4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,635 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 2,479 118 213 602 443 394 280 551 505 157 131 2.3 2.6 1.5 2.4 3.1 2.5 1.6 4.3 4.6 .7 .7 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 1.7 1.5 2.3 2.8 2.6 1.5 4.4 4.7 .7 .7 2.2 1.6 1.4 2.3 2.9 2.3 1.5 4.4 4.7 .7 .7 2.1 1.5 1.5 2.3 2.9 2.2 1.5 4.1 4.4 .7 .7 327 1,128 526 644 1.6 2.4 1.8 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 1.4 2.3 1.9 2.2 1.4 2.4 1.7 1.9 1.3 2.3 1.7 2.1 Industry and region May 2006 Dec. 2006 INDUSTRY 4 Total private ……………………………………………………………………………….. 2,628 2,615 2,505 2,571 2,591 2,486 Construction……………………………………………………………… 198 143 141 120 131 126 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 208 222 229 212 216 199 Trade, transportation, and utilities 5………………………… 641 597 594 606 608 600 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 469 438 422 438 428 440 Professional and business services……………………. 437 497 498 486 461 418 Education and health services…………………………………………. 280 289 271 280 267 274 Leisure and hospitality 6………………...…………………………… 563 602 489 579 590 592 Accommodations and food services……………………. 515 560 448 531 539 542 Government 7…………………………………………………………………………….. 157 146 150 139 155 153 State and local government…………….………………………………………….………………. 131 130 129 117 130 129 REGION 8 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 397 367 355 322 352 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,177 1,171 1,099 1,152 1,150 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 572 559 595 599 588 West………………………………………………………………………….. 627 638 602 629 665 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. 2 350 1,163 544 590 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 May 2006 Apr. 2007 Rates May 2007p May 2006 Apr. 2007 May 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,300 4,367 4,400 3.1 3.1 3.1 Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 3,838 3,870 3,912 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 15 13 15 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 162 187 192 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 324 361 384 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 218 212 222 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 106 148 163 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 733 685 623 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 162 163 130 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 424 391 351 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 147 131 142 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 132 143 139 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 289 242 267 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 227 173 214 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 62 70 54 Professional and business services…………………………………. 761 767 698 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 676 724 742 Educational services………………………………………………………. 78 74 75 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 598 651 667 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 583 594 665 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 64 83 87 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 518 511 577 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 164 153 187 3.2 2.2 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.0 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.8 4.1 3.3 3.5 2.8 4.2 3.6 2.6 3.9 4.2 3.1 4.4 2.9 3.3 1.7 2.4 2.5 2.3 2.8 2.5 2.7 2.5 2.5 4.4 2.8 2.7 3.1 4.1 3.8 2.3 4.1 4.3 4.2 4.3 2.7 3.3 2.0 2.4 2.7 2.4 3.1 2.3 2.1 2.2 2.7 4.3 3.1 3.3 2.4 3.8 3.9 2.4 4.2 4.6 4.1 4.7 3.3 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 462 498 488 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 41 55 37 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 421 443 451 2.0 1.5 2.1 2.2 2.0 2.2 2.1 1.3 2.2 2.7 3.5 2.4 3.2 2.6 3.5 2.5 3.4 2.6 3.4 2.6 3.4 INDUSTRY REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 708 682 695 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,785 1,790 1,753 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 786 817 845 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1,021 1,078 1,106 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 May 2006 Apr. 2007 Rates May 2007p May 2006 Apr. 2007 May 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5,752 4,883 5,658 4.2 3.5 4.1 4.7 3.4 6.3 3.1 3.0 3.4 4.4 2.6 5.5 3.5 3.0 2.6 2.1 4.1 6.5 3.0 2.2 3.2 8.0 10.6 7.5 3.4 4.0 3.2 5.9 2.5 2.3 2.9 3.8 3.0 4.5 2.6 2.7 2.4 2.4 2.5 4.8 2.5 1.5 2.6 7.4 7.3 7.4 3.1 4.5 4.8 5.6 3.0 2.7 3.4 4.4 3.2 5.3 3.1 2.5 3.3 2.9 4.5 5.5 2.7 1.8 2.8 8.5 9.9 8.3 3.4 1.8 2.5 1.7 1.4 2.7 1.2 1.9 3.2 1.7 3.9 4.3 4.3 4.2 3.0 3.8 3.5 3.6 3.2 4.4 4.3 4.1 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 5,352 4,575 5,231 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 23 23 35 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 494 442 430 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 446 353 419 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 272 205 244 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 174 148 175 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 1,162 1,001 1,157 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 156 182 193 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 832 688 805 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 174 131 158 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 91 84 78 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 220 203 281 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 130 149 182 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 90 54 99 Professional and business services…………………………………. 1,130 859 983 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 541 452 492 Educational services………………………………………………………. 65 48 56 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 475 404 436 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 1,060 992 1,169 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 212 139 204 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 849 852 965 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 184 167 187 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 401 308 427 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 68 73 87 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 333 235 340 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 997 781 842 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,115 1,876 2,164 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 1,366 1,118 1,383 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1,274 1,109 1,269 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 May 2006 Apr. 2007 Rates May 2007p May 2006 Apr. 2007 May 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,940 4,260 4,385 3.6 3.1 3.2 Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,603 4,034 4,040 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 13 22 25 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 457 299 304 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 383 369 384 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 205 211 220 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 178 158 163 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 1,115 882 964 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 150 154 112 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 791 604 708 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 174 125 143 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 77 71 71 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 200 197 225 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 146 141 156 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 54 56 70 Professional and business services…………………………………. 909 835 653 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 496 386 482 Educational services………………………………………………………. 88 45 64 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 408 340 418 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 800 835 790 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 118 155 102 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 682 680 688 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 153 138 143 4.0 1.9 5.9 2.7 2.3 3.4 4.3 2.5 5.2 3.5 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.5 5.2 2.8 3.0 2.7 6.0 5.9 6.0 2.8 3.5 3.1 4.0 2.6 2.4 3.1 3.4 2.6 4.0 2.5 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.6 4.7 2.1 1.4 2.2 6.3 8.2 5.9 2.5 3.5 3.5 3.9 2.7 2.5 3.2 3.7 1.9 4.6 2.8 2.3 2.7 2.5 3.2 3.7 2.6 2.1 2.7 5.8 5.0 5.9 2.6 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 336 226 345 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 54 59 79 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 282 167 266 1.5 2.0 1.4 1.0 2.2 .8 1.5 2.9 1.3 2.9 4.1 3.3 3.7 2.2 3.8 2.7 3.1 2.1 3.7 2.9 3.5 INDUSTRY REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 738 573 537 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,027 1,883 1,857 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 1,038 842 916 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1,137 962 1,075 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 May 2006 Apr. 2007 Rates May 2007p May 2006 Apr. 2007 May 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,932 2,518 2,759 2.1 1.8 2.0 Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 2,752 2,396 2,577 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 9 13 16 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 226 121 131 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 215 198 221 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 109 109 130 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 106 88 92 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 690 571 646 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 73 91 68 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 514 412 491 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 102 68 88 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 62 50 42 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 126 121 159 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 95 95 118 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 31 26 41 Professional and business services…………………………………. 460 403 387 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 297 258 299 Educational services………………………………………………………. 41 29 26 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 257 229 273 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 581 572 565 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 41 45 38 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 540 526 527 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 86 90 110 2.4 1.3 2.9 1.5 1.2 2.0 2.6 1.2 3.4 2.0 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.4 2.6 1.7 1.4 1.7 4.4 2.1 4.8 1.6 2.1 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.7 2.2 1.5 2.7 1.3 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.2 2.3 1.4 .9 1.5 4.3 2.4 4.6 1.6 2.2 2.3 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.8 2.4 1.1 3.2 1.7 1.4 1.9 1.9 1.8 2.2 1.6 .9 1.8 4.1 1.9 4.5 2.0 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 179 122 182 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 27 22 27 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 152 100 155 .8 1.0 .8 .5 .8 .5 .8 1.0 .8 1.6 2.6 2.0 2.1 1.2 2.4 1.5 1.8 1.3 2.4 1.7 2.2 INDUSTRY REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 407 313 328 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,255 1,170 1,199 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 618 485 552 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 651 549 680 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 May 2006 Apr. 2007 Rates May 2007p May 2006 Apr. 2007 May 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,598 1,451 1,316 1.2 1.1 0.9 1.3 .3 2.5 1.0 .8 1.2 1.2 .8 1.4 1.1 .3 .6 .5 .9 2.2 1.0 1.5 .9 1.4 3.7 1.0 .9 1.2 .8 2.3 .9 .9 1.0 1.0 .9 1.0 .9 .5 .6 .5 1.0 2.2 .6 .4 .6 1.8 5.5 1.2 .6 1.1 .9 2.0 1.0 .9 1.2 1.0 .6 1.2 .8 .8 .6 .4 1.0 1.2 .8 1.1 .7 1.5 3.0 1.2 .5 .4 .4 .4 .2 .5 .2 .4 .7 .4 1.0 1.2 1.1 1.3 .8 1.2 .9 1.1 .6 1.1 .9 1.0 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 1,498 1,398 1,226 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 2 5 6 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 198 171 152 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 138 132 138 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 76 80 76 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 63 52 62 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 309 251 261 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 48 56 35 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 207 147 183 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 55 47 42 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 11 16 25 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 49 52 48 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 29 31 26 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 20 21 22 Professional and business services…………………………………. 379 391 222 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 174 105 144 Educational services………………………………………………………. 45 13 33 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 129 92 111 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 187 243 201 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 73 105 61 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 114 139 139 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 50 31 27 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 99 53 90 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 12 13 18 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 87 40 72 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 255 203 161 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 592 612 545 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 349 291 303 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 401 345 306 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 May 2006 Apr. 2007 Rates May 2007p May 2006 Apr. 2007 May 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 411 292 311 0.3 0.2 0.2 Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 353 241 238 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 2 3 3 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 33 7 21 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 30 39 25 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 21 22 15 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 9 18 9 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 116 61 57 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 29 6 9 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 70 45 35 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 17 10 13 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 4 5 4 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 25 24 18 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 22 16 11 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 3 9 7 Professional and business services…………………………………. 69 41 43 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 24 23 38 Educational services………………………………………………………. 2 3 4 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 22 19 34 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 31 20 24 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 4 6 3 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 28 15 21 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 17 16 6 .3 .3 .4 .2 .2 .2 .4 .5 .5 .3 .1 .3 .4 .1 .4 .1 .1 .1 .2 .2 .2 .3 .2 .5 .1 .3 .2 .3 .2 .1 .3 .2 .2 .3 .3 .4 .2 .1 .1 .1 .2 .3 .1 .3 .2 .4 .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 .1 .2 .3 .1 .2 .2 .3 .2 .2 .1 .2 .2 .1 .2 .1 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 58 51 73 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 15 24 34 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 43 27 39 .3 .5 .2 .2 .9 .1 .3 1.2 .2 .3 .4 .2 .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 INDUSTRY REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 76 57 48 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 180 101 113 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 70 65 61 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 84 69 89 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. p = preliminary. 2