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1

Technical information:

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

Media contact:

USDL 06-39
For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Tuesday, January 10, 2006

691-5902

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: NOVEMBER 2005
The job openings, hires, and total separations rates were all little changed in November, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic
region.
Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,
Percent
December 2002 - November 2005

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,
Percent
December 2002 - November 2005
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
2.5

1.5
2003

2004

2005

2003

2004

2005

Job Openings
On the last business day of November 2005, there were 3.9 million job openings in the United States,
and the job openings rate was 2.8 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate did not change significantly
in November, but has generally trended upward since September 2003. In November, the job openings rate
increased in manufacturing and in the West region, but decreased in professional and business services and in
the Northeast region.
Hires and Separations
The hires rate was little changed at 3.4 percent in November. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to
the payroll during the month. Over the month, the hires rate decreased in manufacturing, but did not change
significantly in any region.
The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.2 percent in November. (See table 3.)
Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In November, the

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

Nov.
2004

1

Total ........................................................... 3,277
Total private 1........................................ 2,910
Construction.....................................
118
Manufacturing ................................
248
Trade, transportation, and
utilities ...........................................
554
Professional and business
services .........................................
620
Education and health services .....
543
Leisure and hospitality ..................
411
Government ..........................................
369

Hires

Total separations

Nov.
2005p

Nov.
2004

Nov.
2005p

Nov.
2004

Oct.
2005

Nov.
2005p

3,937
3,540
148
320

3,904
3,483
136
349

Levels (in thousands)
4,650
4,586
4,990
4,652
4,308
4,265
373
414
395
386
436
327

4,266
3,996
351
327

4,331
4,077
396
339

4,337
4,071
378
367

611

656

1,077

919

883

943

902

928

848
597
492
432

713
594
516
425

935
447
858
335

780
460
840
326

802
470
834
319

822
408
727
275

805
402
742
255

801
413
758
268

Oct.
2005

Oct.
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

2.4
2.6
1.6
1.7

2.9
3.1
2.0
2.2

2.8
3.0
1.8
2.4

3.8
4.2
5.3
2.7

3.5
3.8
5.7
3.1

3.4
3.8
5.4
2.3

3.2
3.6
5.0
2.3

3.2
3.6
5.4
2.4

3.2
3.6
5.1
2.6

2.1

2.3

2.5

4.2

3.5

3.4

3.7

3.5

3.6

3.6
3.1
3.2
1.7

4.7
3.3
3.7
1.9

4.0
3.3
3.9
1.9

5.6
2.6
6.8
1.5

4.6
2.6
6.6
1.5

4.7
2.7
6.5
1.5

4.9
2.4
5.8
1.3

4.7
2.3
5.8
1.2

4.7
2.4
5.9
1.2

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

total separations rate did not change significantly in any industry. Geographically, the total separations rate
increased in the Midwest but decreased in the Northeast.
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 November. (See table 4.) The quits rate did not
change significantly in any industry. Geographically, the rate increased in the Midwest.
The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not
seasonally adjusted. In November, the layoffs and discharges rate, at 1.1 percent, was little changed over
the year, and the other separations rate was unchanged at 0.2 percent. (See tables 9 and 10.)
Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the last 12 months, hires
have averaged 4.7 million per month and separations have averaged 4.5 million per month (not seasonally
adjusted). The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.5 million hires and 4.2 million separations. (See the
Technical Note for additional information on these measures.)

3

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 December 2005 is scheduled to be issued on
Tuesday, February 7, 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 Employment
Security Agencies verify with employers and update, if
necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership
classification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes
in establishment characteristics resulting from the verification
process are always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame
with the data reported for the first month of the year.
Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll
who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes
the 12th day of the reference month. Full-time, part-time,
permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried, and hourly
employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or
other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated
businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without
pay or on strike for the entire pay period, are not counted as
employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee
leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are
counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment
where they are working.
Job openings. Establishments submit job openings
information for the last business day of the reference month.
A job opening requires that: 1) a specific position exists and
there is work available for that position, 2) work could start
within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is
found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside
the establishment to fill the position. Included are full-time,
part-time, permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings.
Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps
to fill a position by advertising in newspapers or on the Internet,
posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using
other similar methods.
Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions,
demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded

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

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

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

1

2

Table 1. Job openings levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels3 (in thousands)
Industry and region

Nov.

Rates

July
2005

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005

Oct.
2005

Nov.

Nov.

2004

June
2005

2005p

Total 4……………………………………………… 3,277

3,647

3,588

3,487

3,836

3,937

3,239
104
269
624
686
609
517
394

3,204
128
287
600
666
607
439
388

3,130
136
266
620
590
604
427
370

3,406
156
293
630
725
606
469
420

634
1,333
781
869

610
1,343
764
832

609
1,353
704
841

728
1,466
754
895

2004

June
2005

July
2005

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005

Oct.
2005

2005p

Nov.

3,904

2.4

2.7

2.6

2.5

2.8

2.9

2.8

3,540
148
320
611
848
597
492
432

3,483
136
349
656
713
594
516
425

2.6
1.6
1.7
2.1
3.6
3.1
3.2
1.7

2.8
1.4
1.8
2.4
3.9
3.4
3.9
1.8

2.8
1.7
2.0
2.3
3.8
3.4
3.3
1.7

2.7
1.8
1.8
2.3
3.4
3.3
3.2
1.7

2.9
2.1
2.0
2.4
4.1
3.4
3.5
1.9

3.1
2.0
2.2
2.3
4.7
3.3
3.7
1.9

3.0
1.8
2.4
2.5
4.0
3.3
3.9
1.9

781
1,471
777
920

673
1,456
768
1,030

2.2
2.6
2.3
2.6

2.4
2.7
2.4
2.9

2.3
2.7
2.4
2.8

2.3
2.8
2.2
2.8

2.8
3.0
2.3
3.0

3.0
3.0
2.4
3.0

2.6
3.0
2.4
3.4

INDUSTRY
Total private4…………………………………… 2,910

118
Manufacturing………………………………… 248
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 554
Professional and business services………
620
Education and health services……………… 543
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
411
Government……………………………………… 369
Construction…………………………………

REGION
Northeast……………………………………… 560
South………………………………………… 1,250
Midwest………………………………………
West……………………………………………

1

726
759

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

and Wyoming.

Table 2. Hires levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
3
Levels (in thousands)

Industry and region

Nov.

Rates

2004

June
2005

July
2005

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005

Oct.
2005

Nov.
2005

Total 4……………………………………………… 4,990

4,694

4,649

4,601

4,719

4,650

4,365
393
347
1,045
835
457
877
337

4,342
381
345
990
832
453
834
330

4,276
435
344
998
786
465
771
337

4,356
422
338
1,001
925
460
808
336

794
1,786
1,054
1,070

772
1,689
1,045
1,081

738
1,750
970
1,144

759
1,840
996
1,136

Nov.
2004

June
2005

July
2005

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005

Oct.
2005

2005p

4,586

3.8

3.5

3.5

3.4

3.5

3.5

3.4

4,308
414
436
919
780
460
840
326

4,265
395
327
883
802
470
834
319

4.2
5.3
2.7
4.2
5.6
2.6
6.8
1.5

3.9
5.4
2.4
4.0
4.9
2.6
6.9
1.6

3.9
5.3
2.4
3.8
4.9
2.6
6.5
1.5

3.8
6.0
2.4
3.8
4.6
2.7
6.0
1.5

3.9
5.8
2.4
3.9
5.4
2.6
6.3
1.5

3.8
5.7
3.1
3.5
4.6
2.6
6.6
1.5

3.8
5.4
2.3
3.4
4.7
2.7
6.5
1.5

741
1,774
1,003
1,125

721
1,679
1,046
1,103

3.4
4.1
3.7
3.5

3.1
3.8
3.4
3.7

3.0
3.6
3.3
3.7

2.9
3.7
3.1
3.9

3.0
3.9
3.2
3.9

2.9
3.7
3.2
3.8

2.8
3.5
3.3
3.7

p

Nov.

INDUSTRY
4

Total private …………………………………… 4,652

373
Manufacturing………………………………… 386
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 1,077
Professional and business services………
935
Education and health services……………… 447
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
858
Government……………………………………… 335
Construction…………………………………

REGION
Northeast……………………………………… 851
South………………………………………… 1,903
Midwest……………………………………… 1,149
West…………………………………………… 1,014

1

Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.

2

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

3

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

4

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

p

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

1

2

Table 3. Total separations levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels3 (in thousands)
Industry and region

Nov.

Rates

July
2005

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005

Oct.
2005

Nov.

Nov.

2004

June
2005

2005p

Total 4……………………………………………… 4,266

4,477

4,270

4,499

4,779

4,331

4,223
380
350
980
818
401
803
254

4,007
370
361
948
747
391
750
257

4,235
452
369
1,019
670
406
785
271

4,487
417
408
1,039
897
430
814
295

761
1,653
946
1,062

715
1,567
1,011
1,001

734
1,639
1,047
1,094

752
1,787
1,135
1,085

2004

June
2005

July
2005

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005

Oct.
2005

2005p

Nov.

4,337

3.2

3.4

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.2

3.2

4,077
396
339
902
805
402
742
255

4,071
378
367
928
801
413
758
268

3.6
5.0
2.3
3.7
4.9
2.4
5.8
1.3

3.8
5.3
2.4
3.8
4.8
2.3
6.3
1.2

3.6
5.1
2.5
3.7
4.4
2.3
5.9
1.2

3.8
6.2
2.6
3.9
3.9
2.3
6.1
1.2

4.0
5.7
2.9
4.0
5.3
2.5
6.4
1.3

3.6
5.4
2.4
3.5
4.7
2.3
5.8
1.2

3.6
5.1
2.6
3.6
4.7
2.4
5.9
1.2

683
1,615
979
1,012

584
1,586
1,171
957

3.0
3.4
3.3
2.9

3.0
3.5
3.0
3.6

2.8
3.3
3.2
3.4

2.9
3.4
3.3
3.7

2.9
3.8
3.6
3.7

2.7
3.4
3.1
3.4

2.3
3.3
3.7
3.3

July
2005

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005

Oct.
2005

2005p

INDUSTRY
Total private4…………………………………… 3,996

351
Manufacturing………………………………… 327
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 943
Professional and business services………
822
Education and health services……………… 408
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
727
Government……………………………………… 275
Construction…………………………………

REGION
Northeast……………………………………… 756
South………………………………………… 1,594
Midwest……………………………………… 1,041
West……………………………………………

826

1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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

p

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Table 4. Quits levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
3
Levels (in thousands)

Industry and region

Nov.

Rates

July
2005

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005

Oct.
2005

Nov.

Nov.

2004

June
2005

2005p

2004

June
2005

Total 4……………………………………………… 2,436

2,475

2,474

2,605

2,778

2,578

2,612

1.8

1.9

1.8

1.9

2.1

1.9

1.9

2,348
139
190
588
386
256
510
124

2,351
140
189
577
353
271
525
125

2,467
222
184
604
374
260
517
139

2,630
202
214
580
497
276
563
149

2,441
203
199
555
354
259
569
134

2,471
170
204
565
393
276
572
141

2.1
2.2
1.3
2.2
2.4
1.5
4.0
.5

2.1
1.9
1.3
2.3
2.3
1.5
4.0
.6

2.1
1.9
1.3
2.2
2.1
1.6
4.1
.6

2.2
3.1
1.3
2.3
2.2
1.5
4.0
.6

2.3
2.8
1.5
2.2
2.9
1.6
4.4
.7

2.2
2.8
1.4
2.1
2.1
1.5
4.5
.6

2.2
2.3
1.4
2.2
2.3
1.6
4.5
.6

350
960
542
653

381
964
548
577

380
1,054
570
585

377
1,147
613
643

360
1,032
571
598

330
1,009
635
615

1.4
2.2
1.8
1.7

1.4
2.0
1.7
2.2

1.5
2.0
1.7
2.0

1.5
2.2
1.8
2.0

1.5
2.4
1.9
2.2

1.4
2.2
1.8
2.0

1.3
2.1
2.0
2.1

Nov.

INDUSTRY
4

Total private …………………………………… 2,319

159
Manufacturing………………………………… 185
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 568
Professional and business services………
401
Education and health services……………… 250
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
499
Government……………………………………… 118
Construction…………………………………

REGION
Northeast……………………………………… 359
South………………………………………… 1,014
Midwest………………………………………
West……………………………………………

551
492

1

Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.

2

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

3

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

4

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

p

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

Total…………………………………………………………

Rates

Nov.

Oct.

Nov.

Nov.

Oct.

Nov.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

3,001

3,935

3,568

2.2

2.8

2.6

2,649
8
95
211
135
76
516
98
328
91
73
191
159
32
573
526
50
476
341
44
297
115

3,518
11
131
312
215
96
716
130
457
128
111
273
216
57
791
587
61
526
437
56
381
149

3,163
10
109
302
214
88
610
103
374
132
98
257
212
46
660
568
66
502
444
42
402
106

2.3
1.3
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.4
1.9
1.7
2.1
1.8
2.3
2.3
2.6
1.5
3.3
2.9
1.6
3.2
2.7
2.5
2.7
2.1

3.0
1.7
1.7
2.1
2.3
1.8
2.7
2.2
2.9
2.5
3.4
3.2
3.4
2.6
4.4
3.2
2.0
3.5
3.3
3.0
3.4
2.7

2.7
1.5
1.4
2.1
2.3
1.6
2.3
1.8
2.3
2.6
3.0
3.0
3.3
2.1
3.7
3.1
2.1
3.3
3.4
2.4
3.6
1.9

352
46
306

417
38
379

404
43
361

1.6
1.7
1.6

1.8
1.4
1.9

1.8
1.6
1.8

540
1,143
647
671

800
1,429
778
927

639
1,331
683
915

2.1
2.4
2.0
2.2

3.0
2.9
2.4
3.0

2.4
2.7
2.1
3.0

INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………
Natural resources and mining………………………
Construction……………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………
Durable goods...……………………………………
Nondurable goods...………………………………
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………
Wholesale trade……………………………………
Retail trade…………………………………………
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………
Information……………………………………………
Financial activities……..………………………………
Finance and insurance……………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing………………
Professional and business services…………………
Education and health services………………………
Educational services………………………………
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………
Accommodations and food services……………
Other services…………………………………………
Government………………………………………………
Federal…………………………………………………
State and local…………….…………………………
REGION
Northeast………………………………………………
South……………………………………………………
Midwest…………………………………………………
West……………………………………………………

1

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

2

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

p

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

Total…………………………………………………………

Rates

Nov.

Oct.

Nov.

Nov.

Oct.

Nov.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

4,522

4,631

4,130

3.4

3.4

3.1

4,247
17
294
319
178
141
1,295
101
991
203
75
185
126
58
837
380
43
337
694
70
624
151

4,312
15
374
413
262
151
1,085
148
777
159
84
181
114
66
783
465
54
410
756
68
688
158

3,870
12
305
266
167
99
1,035
115
726
194
89
188
121
68
706
399
49
349
688
76
612
181

3.8
2.7
4.1
2.2
2.0
2.6
5.0
1.8
6.4
4.1
2.4
2.3
2.1
2.8
5.0
2.2
1.4
2.3
5.6
4.2
5.9
2.8

3.8
2.3
5.0
2.9
2.9
2.8
4.2
2.6
5.1
3.2
2.7
2.2
1.9
3.1
4.5
2.6
1.8
2.8
5.9
3.8
6.3
2.9

3.4
1.9
4.1
1.9
1.9
1.9
3.9
2.0
4.7
3.9
2.8
2.3
2.0
3.1
4.1
2.3
1.6
2.4
5.5
4.5
5.6
3.3

276
35
241

319
37
282

260
32
228

1.2
1.3
1.2

1.4
1.4
1.4

1.2
1.2
1.2

807
1,767
1,005
943

752
1,768
965
1,146

677
1,500
939
1,015

3.2
3.7
3.2
3.2

2.9
3.7
3.0
3.9

2.6
3.1
3.0
3.4

INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………
Natural resources and mining………………………
Construction……………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………
Durable goods...……………………………………
Nondurable goods...………………………………
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………
Wholesale trade……………………………………
Retail trade…………………………………………
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………
Information……………………………………………
Financial activities……..………………………………
Finance and insurance……………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing………………
Professional and business services…………………
Education and health services………………………
Educational services………………………………
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………
Accommodations and food services……………
Other services…………………………………………
Government………………………………………………
Federal…………………………………………………
State and local…………….…………………………
REGION
Northeast………………………………………………
South……………………………………………………
Midwest…………………………………………………
West……………………………………………………

1

Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.

2

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

p

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

Total…………………………………………………………

Nov.

Oct.

Nov.

Nov.

Oct.

Nov.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

3,984

4,350

4,009

3.0

3.2

3.0

3,780
19
379
301
180
122
873
110
611
152
52
161
105
56
770
332
31
301
708
125
583
185

4,129
13
415
360
225
135
892
125
615
152
72
162
97
66
781
369
36
334
880
139
741
184

3,810
14
399
346
217
128
847
130
580
136
71
135
84
51
742
339
37
302
734
99
635
182

3.4
3.2
5.3
2.1
2.0
2.3
3.3
1.9
3.9
3.1
1.7
2.0
1.8
2.7
4.6
1.9
1.0
2.1
5.7
7.4
5.5
3.4

3.7
2.1
5.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
3.4
2.2
4.0
3.0
2.3
2.0
1.6
3.0
4.5
2.1
1.2
2.3
6.9
7.8
6.8
3.4

3.4
2.2
5.3
2.4
2.4
2.4
3.2
2.3
3.7
2.7
2.2
1.6
1.4
2.4
4.3
1.9
1.2
2.1
5.9
5.9
5.9
3.3

204
25
179

221
19
202

199
27
172

.9
.9
.9

1.0
.7
1.0

.9
1.0
.9

743
1,381
1,048
813

700
1,655
969
1,026

568
1,325
1,212
905

2.9
2.9
3.3
2.8

2.7
3.4
3.1
3.5

2.2
2.8
3.8
3.0

INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………
Natural resources and mining………………………
Construction……………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………
Durable goods...……………………………………
Nondurable goods...………………………………
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………
Wholesale trade……………………………………
Retail trade…………………………………………
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………
Information……………………………………………
Financial activities……..………………………………
Finance and insurance……………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing………………
Professional and business services…………………
Education and health services………………………
Educational services………………………………
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………
Accommodations and food services……………
Other services…………………………………………
Government………………………………………………
Federal…………………………………………………
State and local…………….…………………………
REGION
Northeast………………………………………………
South……………………………………………………
Midwest…………………………………………………
West……………………………………………………

1

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

2

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

p

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

Total…………………………………………………………

Rates

Nov.

Oct.

Nov.

Nov.

Oct.

Nov.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

2,100

2,526

2,257

1.6

1.9

1.7

2,008
6
134
139
69
70
506
49
390
67
31
87
60
27
370
208
15
193
436
41
395
91

2,410
6
211
202
116
86
559
65
421
74
53
91
62
29
341
242
21
222
591
59
532
114

2,146
8
145
156
103
53
502
48
390
64
44
80
59
21
360
230
23
208
504
30
474
117

1.8
1.0
1.9
1.0
.8
1.3
1.9
.9
2.5
1.4
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.3
2.2
1.2
.5
1.3
3.5
2.5
3.7
1.7

2.1
1.0
2.8
1.4
1.3
1.6
2.2
1.1
2.8
1.5
1.7
1.1
1.0
1.3
2.0
1.4
.7
1.5
4.7
3.3
4.9
2.1

1.9
1.2
1.9
1.1
1.1
1.0
1.9
.8
2.5
1.3
1.4
1.0
1.0
1.0
2.1
1.3
.8
1.4
4.0
1.8
4.4
2.2

92
9
83

116
9
107

111
15
96

.4
.3
.4

.5
.3
.5

.5
.6
.5

317
860
500
423

374
1,040
548
564

280
852
590
535

1.2
1.8
1.6
1.5

1.5
2.2
1.7
1.9

1.1
1.8
1.9
1.8

INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………
Natural resources and mining………………………
Construction……………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………
Durable goods...……………………………………
Nondurable goods...………………………………
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………
Wholesale trade……………………………………
Retail trade…………………………………………
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………
Information……………………………………………
Financial activities……..………………………………
Finance and insurance……………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing………………
Professional and business services…………………
Education and health services………………………
Educational services………………………………
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………
Accommodations and food services……………
Other services…………………………………………
Government………………………………………………
Federal…………………………………………………
State and local…………….…………………………
REGION
Northeast………………………………………………
South……………………………………………………
Midwest…………………………………………………
West……………………………………………………

1

Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.

2

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

p

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

Total…………………………………………………………

Nov.

Oct.

Nov.

Nov.

Oct.

Nov.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

1,621

1,559

1,498

1.2

1.2

1.1

1,547
9
235
145
99
46
304
57
178
69
14
65
36
29
356
103
15
88
233
78
155
83

1,484
6
180
122
79
42
286
54
170
62
13
63
30
33
408
95
12
83
266
78
188
44

1,438
4
223
148
80
68
305
74
169
62
21
43
15
28
352
88
12
76
208
67
142
47

1.4
1.4
3.3
1.0
1.1
.9
1.2
1.0
1.1
1.4
.4
.8
.6
1.4
2.1
.6
.5
.6
1.9
4.7
1.5
1.5

1.3
.9
2.4
.9
.9
.8
1.1
.9
1.1
1.3
.4
.8
.5
1.5
2.4
.5
.4
.6
2.1
4.3
1.7
.8

1.3
.6
3.0
1.0
.9
1.3
1.2
1.3
1.1
1.2
.7
.5
.3
1.3
2.1
.5
.4
.5
1.7
4.0
1.3
.9

75
4
71

75
5
70

60
6
54

.3
.2
.4

.3
.2
.4

.3
.2
.3

367
434
484
337

282
542
353
382

247
404
549
298

1.4
.9
1.5
1.2

1.1
1.1
1.1
1.3

1.0
.8
1.7
1.0

INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………
Natural resources and mining………………………
Construction……………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………
Durable goods...……………………………………
Nondurable goods...………………………………
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………
Wholesale trade……………………………………
Retail trade…………………………………………
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………
Information……………………………………………
Financial activities……..………………………………
Finance and insurance……………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing………………
Professional and business services…………………
Education and health services………………………
Educational services………………………………
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………
Accommodations and food services……………
Other services…………………………………………
Government………………………………………………
Federal…………………………………………………
State and local…………….…………………………
REGION
Northeast………………………………………………
South……………………………………………………
Midwest…………………………………………………
West……………………………………………………

1

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

2

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

p

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

Total…………………………………………………………

Nov.

Oct.

Nov.

Nov.

Oct.

Nov.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

262

266

254

.2

.2

.2

225
5
10
17
11
6
63
4
43
15
7
10
9
1
44
21
1
20
38
5
34
10

235
1
24
36
29
7
46
5
25
16
6
9
5
4
32
32
3
29
23
2
21
26

226
2
32
43
35
8
41
9
21
11
7
11
9
2
30
21
2
19
21
2
19
18

.2
.8
.1
.1
.1
.1
.2
.1
.3
.3
.2
.1
.2
(³)
.3
.1
(³)
.1
.3
.3
.3
.2

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

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

37
12
26

30
5
26

29
6
22

.2
.4
.1

.1
.2
.1

.1
.2
.1

59
86
64
52

44
74
68
80

41
68
73
72

.2
.2
.2
.2

.2
.2
.2
.3

.2
.1
.2
.2

INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………
Natural resources and mining………………………
Construction……………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………
Durable goods...……………………………………
Nondurable goods...………………………………
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………
Wholesale trade……………………………………
Retail trade…………………………………………
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………
Information……………………………………………
Financial activities……..………………………………
Finance and insurance……………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing………………
Professional and business services…………………
Education and health services………………………
Educational services………………………………
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………
Accommodations and food services……………
Other services…………………………………………
Government………………………………………………
Federal…………………………………………………
State and local…………….…………………………
REGION
Northeast………………………………………………
South……………………………………………………
Midwest…………………………………………………
West……………………………………………………

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

Data round to zero.

p

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.