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1

Technical information:

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

Media contact:

USDL 05-2311
For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Tuesday, December 13, 2005

691-5902

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: OCTOBER 2005
The job openings rate increased to 2.9 percent in October, while the total separations rate decreased
to 3.1 percent and the hires rate was unchanged at 3.5 percent, 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
November 2002 - October 2005

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,
Percent
November 2002 - October 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 October 2005, there were 4.0 million job openings in the United States, and
the job openings rate was 2.9 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate rose over the month, continuing
the generally upward trend that began in September 2003. In October, the job openings rate increased for
private industries overall and for government. The job openings rate also rose in the professional and business services industry and in the Northeast region.
Hires and Separations
The hires rate was unchanged at 3.5 percent in October. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to the
payroll during the month. Over the month, the hires rate increased in the manufacturing industry but decreased in the professional and business services industry.
The total separations, or turnover, rate decreased to 3.1 percent in October. (See table 3.) Separations
are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In October, the total separations

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

Oct.
2004

1

Total ........................................................... 3,300
Total private 1..................................... 2,924
Construction .....................................
114
Manufacturing ................................
250
Trade, transportation, and
utilities ...........................................
559
Professional and business
services .........................................
602
Education and health services .....
547
Leisure and hospitality ..................
413
Government ..........................................
400

Hires
Sept.
2005

Oct.
2005p

Oct.
2004

3,836
3,406
156
293

3,992
3,568
163
292

Levels (in thousands)
4,719
4,716
4,552
4,216
4,356
4,370
353
422
428
353
338
450

630

601

977

1,001

725
606
469
420

886
603
493
463

812
420
801
318

925
460
808
336

Sept.
2005

Oct.
2005p

Total separations
Oct.
Oct.
Sept.
2005
2005p
2004
4,215
3,957
425
354

4,779
4,487
417
408

4,140
3,890
391
310

944

889

1,039

878

770
467
840
327

585
376
767
263

897
430
814
295

742
397
725
252

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

2.8
2.9
2.1
2.0

2.9
3.1
2.2
2.0

3.4
3.8
5.0
2.5

3.5
3.9
5.8
2.4

3.5
3.9
5.9
3.2

3.2
3.6
6.0
2.5

3.6
4.0
5.7
2.9

3.1
3.5
5.3
2.2

2.1

2.4

2.3

3.8

3.9

3.7

3.5

4.0

3.4

3.5
3.1
3.2
1.8

4.1
3.4
3.5
1.9

4.9
3.3
3.7
2.1

4.9
2.5
6.4
1.5

5.4
2.6
6.3
1.5

4.5
2.7
6.6
1.5

3.5
2.2
6.1
1.2

5.3
2.5
6.4
1.3

4.3
2.3
5.7
1.2

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

rate decreased for government and for private industries overall, and in the manufacturing; trade, transportation, and utilities; and professional and business services industries. The total separations rate also
decreased in the South and Midwest regions.
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, decreased to 1.9 percent in October. (See table 4.) The quits rate decreased for
private industries overall and for professional and business services. Geographically, the rate was down in
the South and Midwest regions.
The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not
seasonally adjusted. From October 2004 to October 2005, the layoffs and discharges rate decreased to
1.1 percent, but 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 4.4 million per month (not seasonally
adjusted). The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.4 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 November 2005 is scheduled to be issued on
Tuesday, January 10, 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
3

Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

Oct.

Rates

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005

Oct.

Oct.

2005p

Total4……………………………………………………………………………………………..
3,300 3,416 3,647 3,588 3,487

3,836

136
266
620
590
604
427
370

609
1,353
704
841

2004

May
2005

June
2005

July
2005

2004

May
2005

June
2005

July
2005

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005

2005p

Oct.

3,992

2.4

2.5

2.7

2.6

2.5

2.8

2.9

3,406
156
293
630
725
606
469
420

3,568
163
292
601
886
603
493
463

2.6
1.6
1.7
2.1
3.5
3.1
3.2
1.8

2.7
1.5
1.6
2.3
3.8
3.4
3.3
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
2.2
2.0
2.3
4.9
3.3
3.7
2.1

728
1,466
754
895

803
1,512
760
914

2.2
2.7
2.1
2.5

2.2
2.7
2.4
2.7

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

3.1
3.1
2.4
3.0

INDUSTRY
4

Total private ………………………………………………………………………………..
2,924 3,050 3,239 3,204 3,130
Construction………………………………………………………………
114
107
104

128
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
250
240
269
287
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………
559
597
624
600
Professional and business services…………………….
602
659
686
666
Education and health services………………………………………….
547
611
609
607
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………
413
440
517
439
Government……………………………………………………………………………..
400
378
394
388
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
562
563
634

610

South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,318 1,303 1,333 1,343
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
688
786
781
764
West…………………………………………………………………………..
742
799
869

1

832

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

and Wyoming.

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

Oct.

June
2005

July
2005

Rates
Oct.

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005

2005

Total4……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,552 4,740 4,694 4,649 4,601

4,719

435
344
998
786
465
771
337

738
1,750
970
1,144

2004

May
2005

Oct.

2004

May
2005

June
2005

July
2005

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005

2005p

4,716

3.4

3.6

3.5

3.5

3.4

3.5

3.5

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

4,370
428
450
944
770
467
840
327

3.8
5.0
2.5
3.8
4.9
2.5
6.4
1.5

3.9
5.8
2.4
4.0
5.3
2.7
5.9
1.6

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

3.9
5.9
3.2
3.7
4.5
2.7
6.6
1.5

759
1,840
996
1,136

748
1,783
1,033
1,141

3.2
3.9
3.2
3.2

3.0
3.8
3.6
3.6

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
3.3
3.9

p

Oct.

INDUSTRY
4

Total private ………………………………………………………………………………..
4,216 4,398 4,365 4,342 4,276
Construction………………………………………………………………
353
420
393

381
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
353
342
347
345
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………
977 1,030 1,045
990
Professional and business services…………………….
812
887
835
832
Education and health services………………………………………….
420
466
457
453
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………
801
750
877
834
Government……………………………………………………………………………..
318
339
337
330
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
811
764
794

772

South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,809 1,816 1,786 1,689
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
1,013 1,129 1,054 1,045
West…………………………………………………………………………..
916 1,048 1,070 1,081

1

Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.

2

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

3

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

4

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

p

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

1

2

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

Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

Oct.

Rates

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005

Oct.

Oct.

2005p

Total4……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,215 4,504 4,477 4,270 4,499

4,779

452
369
1,019
670
406
785
271

734
1,639
1,047
1,094

2004

May
2005

June
2005

July
2005

2004

May
2005

June
2005

July
2005

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005

2005p

Oct.

4,140

3.2

3.4

3.4

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.1

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

3,890
391
310
878
742
397
725
252

3.6
6.0
2.5
3.5
3.5
2.2
6.1
1.2

3.8
5.6
2.6
3.8
5.1
2.3
5.9
1.2

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

3.5
5.3
2.2
3.4
4.3
2.3
5.7
1.2

752
1,787
1,135
1,085

670
1,589
925
980

2.8
3.5
3.0
3.1

2.8
3.7
3.1
3.5

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

2.6
3.3
2.9
3.3

June
2005

July
2005

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005

2005p

INDUSTRY
4

Total private ………………………………………………………………………………..
3,957 4,256 4,223 4,007 4,235
Construction………………………………………………………………
425
408
380

370
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
354
369
350
361
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………
889
989
980
948
Professional and business services…………………….
585
851
818
747
Education and health services………………………………………….
376
405
401
391
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………
767
750
803
750
Government……………………………………………………………………………..
263
254
254
257
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
711
714
761

715

South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,614 1,743 1,653 1,567
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
952
976
946 1,011
West…………………………………………………………………………..
896 1,034 1,062 1,001

1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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

p

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

Oct.

Rates

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005

Oct.

Oct.

2005p

2004

May
2005

Total4……………………………………………………………………………………………..
2,344 2,514 2,475 2,474 2,605

2,778

2,547

1.8

1.9

1.9

1.8

1.9

2.1

1.9

222
184
604
374
260
517
139

2,630
202
214
580
497
276
563
149

2,405
196
194
552
361
260
558
137

2.0
2.6
1.3
2.0
1.7
1.4
3.8
.6

2.1
2.3
1.3
2.3
2.5
1.4
3.8
.6

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

2.1
2.7
1.4
2.1
2.1
1.5
4.4
.6

380
1,054
570
585

377
1,147
613
643

365
1,017
558
590

1.3
2.0
1.6
1.9

1.5
2.2
1.8
1.9

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
2.1
1.8
2.0

2004

May
2005

June
2005

July
2005

Oct.

INDUSTRY
Total private4………………………………………………………………………………..
2,217 2,391 2,348 2,351 2,467
Construction………………………………………………………………
182
168
139

140
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
187
183
190
189
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………
517
589
588
577
Professional and business services…………………….
281
420
386
353
Education and health services………………………………………….
239
249
256
271
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………
474
488
510
525
Government……………………………………………………………………………..
123
123
124
125
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
333
373
350

381

South…………………………………………………………………………………..
943 1,020
960
964
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
500
554
542
548
West…………………………………………………………………………..
550
562
653

577

1

Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.

2

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

3

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

4

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

p

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

Rates

Oct.

Sept.

Oct.

Oct.

Sept.

Oct.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

3,995

2.4

2.9

2.9

3,547
13
8
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
99
155
147
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
243
307
285
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
153
203
195
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
90
104
89
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
665
721
709
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
83
118
124
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
498
473
468
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....84
130
116
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
90
109
115
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
217
275
288
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
179
208
221
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
38
67
67
Professional and business services………………………………….
543
756
817
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
542
618
595
Educational services……………………………………………………….
54
57
60
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
489
560
536
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
364
461
441
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
41
42
51
Accommodations and food services………………………….
323
419
390
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
113
191
143

2.5
1.6
1.3
1.7
1.7
1.6
2.5
1.4
3.2
1.7
2.8
2.6
2.9
1.8
3.1
3.0
1.8
3.3
2.8
2.2
2.9
2.0

3.1
2.0
2.0
2.1
2.2
1.9
2.7
2.0
3.0
2.5
3.3
3.2
3.3
3.0
4.2
3.4
2.0
3.7
3.4
2.1
3.7
3.4

3.0
1.2
1.9
2.0
2.1
1.6
2.7
2.1
3.0
2.3
3.5
3.4
3.5
3.0
4.5
3.3
1.9
3.5
3.4
2.8
3.4
2.6

448
34
415

1.7
1.5
1.7

1.8
1.6
1.9

2.0
1.2
2.1

823
1,477
758
938

2.1
2.6
2.1
2.5

3.0
3.1
2.5
3.0

3.1
3.0
2.3
3.1

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
3,269
4,008
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
2,886
3,604
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
10

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
383
404
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
41
43
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
342
360
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
553
781
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,274
1,516
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
687
796
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
755
915

1

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

2

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

p

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

Rates

Oct.

Sept.

Oct.

Oct.

Sept.

Oct.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

4,698

3.4

3.9

3.5

4,378
17
16
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
321
435
390
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
323
360
423
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
208
211
258
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
115
149
165
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
1,160
1,146
1,104
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
164
160
146
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
853
788
800
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
144
198
158
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
65
80
92
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
199
189
210
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
126
117
115
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
73
72
95
Professional and business services………………………………….
828
938
766
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
426
590
472
Educational services……………………………………………………….
68
128
55
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
358
463
417
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
709
806
757
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
71
87
72
Accommodations and food services………………………….
638
719
685
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
168
194
149

3.8
3.8
4.4
2.2
2.3
2.1
4.5
2.9
5.6
2.9
2.1
2.5
2.1
3.5
4.9
2.5
2.3
2.5
5.7
4.0
6.0
3.1

4.2
2.7
5.8
2.5
2.4
2.8
4.4
2.8
5.2
4.0
2.6
2.3
1.9
3.3
5.5
3.4
4.6
3.2
6.2
4.5
6.5
3.6

3.9
2.4
5.2
3.0
2.9
3.1
4.3
2.5
5.3
3.2
2.9
2.5
1.9
4.4
4.4
2.7
1.8
2.9
6.0
4.0
6.3
2.7

319
33
286

1.4
1.4
1.4

2.4
2.1
2.5

1.4
1.2
1.5

758
1,768
1,004
1,168

3.2
3.8
3.1
3.2

3.8
3.9
3.7
4.3

3.0
3.7
3.2
3.9

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,535
5,284
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
4,222
4,757
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
23

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
313
527
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
39
57
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
275
470
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
828
971
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,797
1,885
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
979
1,171
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
932
1,257

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

Oct.

Sept.

Oct.

Oct.

Sept.

Oct.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

4,168

3.2

4.0

3.1

3,949
18
12
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
452
451
408
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
391
414
336
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
247
248
205
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
144
166
130
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
897
1,115
876
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
126
157
116
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
645
768
612
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
126
190
148
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
87
96
73
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
208
202
151
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
120
112
80
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
88
90
71
Professional and business services………………………………….
570
910
707
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
346
463
364
Educational services……………………………………………………….
45
84
34
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
301
380
330
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
923
1,099
853
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
177
224
137
Accommodations and food services………………………….
746
876
716
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
154
215
168

3.6
3.3
6.2
2.7
2.8
2.7
3.5
2.2
4.3
2.6
2.8
2.6
2.0
4.2
3.4
2.0
1.5
2.1
7.4
9.9
7.0
2.8

4.4
2.7
6.0
2.9
2.8
3.1
4.3
2.7
5.1
3.8
3.1
2.4
1.8
4.1
5.3
2.7
3.0
2.6
8.5
11.7
7.9
4.0

3.5
1.9
5.4
2.4
2.3
2.4
3.4
2.0
4.0
3.0
2.3
1.8
1.3
3.3
4.1
2.1
1.1
2.3
6.7
7.6
6.6
3.1

219
18
201

1.1
1.2
1.0

1.7
1.9
1.7

1.0
.7
1.0

675
1,606
914
973

2.9
3.6
3.0
3.2

3.7
3.9
4.2
4.2

2.6
3.3
2.9
3.3

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,278
5,353
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
4,046
4,983
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
20

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
232
369
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
33
53
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
199
317
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
735
936
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,676
1,868
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
943
1,323
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
924
1,226

1

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

2

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

p

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

Rates

Oct.

Sept.

Oct.

Oct.

Sept.

Oct.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

2,489

1.7

2.4

1.8

2,368
10
7
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
178
228
201
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
191
244
196
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
128
150
117
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
63
94
79
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
527
672
551
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
64
95
56
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
402
486
419
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....61
92
77
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
48
66
54
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
124
118
90
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
67
74
55
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
56
44
35
Professional and business services………………………………….
281
516
348
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
226
312
244
Educational services……………………………………………………….
27
44
20
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
199
267
224
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
489
750
580
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
48
73
64
Accommodations and food services………………………….
441
678
516
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
119
129
99

2.0
1.6
2.5
1.3
1.4
1.2
2.0
1.1
2.7
1.2
1.5
1.5
1.1
2.7
1.7
1.3
.9
1.4
3.9
2.7
4.1
2.2

2.7
1.6
3.0
1.7
1.7
1.8
2.6
1.7
3.2
1.8
2.1
1.4
1.2
2.0
3.0
1.8
1.6
1.8
5.8
3.8
6.1
2.4

2.1
1.1
2.7
1.4
1.3
1.5
2.1
1.0
2.8
1.5
1.7
1.1
.9
1.6
2.0
1.4
.7
1.5
4.6
3.6
4.7
1.8

121
8
113

.5
.4
.5

.8
.7
.8

.5
.3
.6

376
1,021
535
557

1.3
2.0
1.5
1.8

1.9
2.6
2.3
2.5

1.5
2.1
1.7
1.9

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
2,300
3,211
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
2,192
3,046
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
9

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
107
165
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
12
20
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
95
145
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
341
492
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
949
1,254
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
483
723
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
527
741

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

Oct.

Sept.

Oct.

Oct.

Sept.

Oct.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

1,427

1.3

1.4

1.1

1,360
6
4
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
247
205
180
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
180
143
122
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
107
79
77
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
73
64
45
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
297
384
280
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
56
43
55
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
190
255
170
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....51
86
55
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
34
20
14
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
61
73
52
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
31
29
19
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
30
44
32
Professional and business services………………………………….
248
354
321
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
96
121
93
Educational services……………………………………………………….
15
37
12
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
81
84
81
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
418
325
251
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
126
146
72
Accommodations and food services………………………….
292
179
179
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
27
74
43

1.5
.8
3.4
1.3
1.2
1.3
1.2
1.0
1.3
1.0
1.1
.8
.5
1.4
1.5
.6
.5
.6
3.3
7.0
2.7
.5

1.5
1.0
2.7
1.0
.9
1.2
1.5
.7
1.7
1.7
.6
.9
.5
2.0
2.1
.7
1.3
.6
2.5
7.6
1.6
1.4

1.2
.6
2.4
.9
.9
.8
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.1
.4
.6
.3
1.5
1.9
.5
.4
.6
2.0
4.0
1.6
.8

67
5
62

.4
.3
.4

.6
.5
.7

.3
.2
.3

259
519
324
324

1.3
1.3
1.3
1.2

1.6
1.1
1.6
1.4

1.0
1.1
1.0
1.1

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
1,697
1,844
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
1,614
1,704
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
5

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
84
141
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
8
13
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
76
127
REGION
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
326
407
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
616
519
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
415
509
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
341
409

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…………………………………………………………

Oct.

Sept.

Oct.

Oct.

Sept.

Oct.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

281

298

252

.2

.2

.2

240
6
26
19
12
8
73
6
53
14
5
24
22
2
40
23
3
20
16
3
13
8

234
1
18
27
19
8
59
19
28
12
10
11
10
2
40
31
3
28
24
5
19
12

220
1
28
18
11
7
44
6
23
15
6
10
6
4
38
28
2
25
22
(³)
21
26

.2
1.0
.4
.1
.1
.1
.3
.1
.3
.3
.2
.3
.4
.1
.2
.1
.1
.1
.1
.2
.1
.1

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

.2
.2
.4
.1
.1
.1
.2
.1
.2
.3
.2
.1
.1
.2
.2
.2
.1
.2
.2
(³)
.2
.5

40
12
28

64
19
45

31
5
26

.2
.5
.1

.3
.7
.2

.1
.2
.1

68
111
46
56

37
95
91
76

41
65
54
91

.3
.2
.1
.2

.1
.2
.3
.3

.2
.1
.2
.3

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.