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1

Technical information:

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

Media contact:

USDL 05-2144
For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Tuesday, November 8, 2005

691-5902

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: SEPTEMBER 2005
The job openings rate increased in September while the hires and total separations rates were unchanged,
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
October 2002 - September 2005

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,
Percent
October 2002 - September 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 September 2005, there were 3.7 million job openings in the United States,
and the job openings rate was 2.7 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate rose in September,
continuing the generally upward trend that began in September 2003. Over the month, the job openings
rate increased in government and in the South region.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck Florida and the Gulf Coast, potentially affecting estimates
for August and September. While JOLTS does not produce data at the detailed local level,
some effect of the storms may be reflected in the JOLTS estimates.

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

Sept.
2004

1

Total ........................................................... 3,265
Total private 1................................... 2,905
Construction .....................................
105
Manufacturing ................................
245
Trade, transportation, and
utilities ...........................................
609
Professional and business
services .........................................
583
Education and health services .....
529
Leisure and hospitality ..................
419
Government ..........................................
360

Hires
Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005p

Sept.
2004

3,487
3,130
136
266

3,677
3,251
151
276

Levels (in thousands)
4,601
4,589
4,406
3,957
4,276
4,231
363
435
435
361
344
341

620

609

908

998

590
604
427
370

667
620
457
426

761
416
772
375

786
465
771
337

Aug.
2005

Sept.
2005p

Total separations
Sept.
Sept. Aug.
2005
2005p
2004
4,214
3,918
377
368

4,499
4,235
452
369

4,610
4,318
425
404

971

909

1,019

988

843
457
785
339

686
380
732
305

670
406
785
271

802
452
821
298

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

2.4
2.6
1.5
1.7

2.5
2.7
1.8
1.8

2.7
2.8
2.0
1.9

3.3
3.6
5.2
2.5

3.4
3.8
6.0
2.4

3.4
3.8
6.0
2.4

3.2
3.6
5.4
2.6

3.4
3.8
6.2
2.6

3.4
3.8
5.8
2.8

2.3

2.3

2.3

3.6

3.8

3.8

3.6

3.9

3.8

3.4
3.0
3.2
1.6

3.4
3.3
3.2
1.7

3.8
3.4
3.5
1.9

4.6
2.4
6.2
1.7

4.6
2.7
6.0
1.5

4.9
2.6
6.2
1.6

4.2
2.2
5.8
1.4

3.9
2.3
6.1
1.2

4.7
2.6
6.4
1.4

1

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

Hires and Separations
The hires rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent in September. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to
the payroll during the month. Over the month, the hires rate did not change significantly in any industry or
region.
The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent in September. (See table 3.)
Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In September, the
total separations rate increased in the professional and business services industry and in government. The
total separations rates in the four geographic regions did not change significantly from August.
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 essentially unchanged at 2.0 percent in September. (See table 4.) The quits rate
increased in manufacturing and in professional and business services, but did not change significantly in any
geographic region.
The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are
not seasonally adjusted. From September 2004 to September 2005, the layoffs and discharges rate was
unchanged at 1.3 percent, but the other separations rate decreased to 0.2 percent. (See tables 9 and 10.)

3

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.)
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 October 2005 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday,
December 13, 2005.

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

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

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

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

1

2

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

Sept.
2004

Total 4……………………………………………… 3,265

Rates

Apr.
2005

May
2005

June
2005

July
2005

Aug.
2005

Sept.

Sept.

2005p

3,576

3,416

3,647

3,588

3,487

3,178
113
259
627
691
608
457
396

3,050
107
240
597
659
611
440
378

3,239
104
269
624
686
609
517
394

3,204
128
287
600
666
607
439
388

602
1,414
742
818

563
1,303
786
799

634
1,333
781
869

610
1,343
764
832

2004

Apr.
2005

May
2005

June
2005

July
2005

Aug.
2005

2005p

Sept.

3,677

2.4

2.6

2.5

2.7

2.6

2.5

2.7

3,130
136
266
620
590
604
427
370

3,251
151
276
609
667
620
457
426

2.6
1.5
1.7
2.3
3.4
3.0
3.2
1.6

2.8
1.5
1.8
2.4
3.9
3.4
3.5
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

2.8
2.0
1.9
2.3
3.8
3.4
3.5
1.9

609
1,353
704
841

628
1,458
742
869

2.2
2.6
2.2
2.7

2.3
2.9
2.3
2.7

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

2.4
3.0
2.3
2.9

INDUSTRY
Total private4…………………………………… 2,905

105
Manufacturing………………………………… 245
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 609
Professional and business services………
583
Education and health services……………… 529
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
419
Government……………………………………… 360
Construction…………………………………

REGION
Northeast……………………………………… 564
South………………………………………… 1,239
Midwest………………………………………
West……………………………………………

1

699
797

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

Sept.
2004

Total 4……………………………………………… 4,406

Rates
Sept.

Sept.

p

2005

4,601

4,342
381
345
990
832
453
834
330

772
1,689
1,045
1,081

Apr.
2005

May
2005

June
2005

July
2005

Aug.
2005

2004

Apr.
2005

May
2005

June
2005

July
2005

Aug.
2005

2005p

4,538

4,740

4,694

4,649

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

4,398
420
342
1,030
887
466
750
339

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

825
1,701
1,020
1,037

764
1,816
1,129
1,048

794
1,786
1,054
1,070

Sept.

4,589

3.3

3.4

3.6

3.5

3.5

3.4

3.4

4,276
435
344
998
786
465
771
337

4,231
435
341
971
843
457
785
339

3.6
5.2
2.5
3.6
4.6
2.4
6.2
1.7

3.8
5.7
2.2
4.0
4.7
2.8
5.8
1.5

3.9
5.8
2.4
4.0
5.3
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

3.8
6.0
2.4
3.8
4.9
2.6
6.2
1.6

738
1,750
970
1,144

776
1,777
924
1,125

3.1
3.8
2.8
3.3

3.3
3.6
3.3
3.6

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
3.7
2.9
3.8

INDUSTRY
4

Total private …………………………………… 3,957

363
Manufacturing………………………………… 361
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 908
Professional and business services………
761
Education and health services……………… 416
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
772
Government……………………………………… 375
Construction…………………………………

REGION
Northeast……………………………………… 794
South………………………………………… 1,754
Midwest………………………………………
West……………………………………………

889
963

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

Sept.
2004

Total 4……………………………………………… 4,214

Rates

Apr.
2005

May
2005

June
2005

July
2005

Aug.
2005

Sept.

Sept.

2005p

4,562

4,504

4,477

4,270

4,499

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

4,256
408
369
989
851
405
750
254

4,223
380
350
980
818
401
803
254

4,007
370
361
948
747
391
750
257

807
1,766
982
1,006

714
1,743
976
1,034

761
1,653
946
1,062

715
1,567
1,011
1,001

2004

Apr.
2005

May
2005

June
2005

July
2005

Aug.
2005

2005p

Sept.

4,610

3.2

3.4

3.4

3.4

3.2

3.4

3.4

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

4,318
425
404
988
802
452
821
298

3.6
5.4
2.6
3.6
4.2
2.2
5.8
1.4

3.9
5.8
2.6
3.9
5.2
2.5
5.6
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

3.8
5.8
2.8
3.8
4.7
2.6
6.4
1.4

734
1,639
1,047
1,094

748
1,744
1,051
1,071

2.9
3.4
3.0
3.4

3.2
3.7
3.1
3.4

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
3.7
3.3
3.6

May
2005

June
2005

July
2005

Aug.
2005

2005p

INDUSTRY
Total private4…………………………………… 3,918

377
Manufacturing………………………………… 368
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 909
Professional and business services………
686
Education and health services……………… 380
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
732
Government……………………………………… 305
Construction…………………………………

REGION
Northeast……………………………………… 725
South………………………………………… 1,604
Midwest………………………………………
West……………………………………………

922
982

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

Sept.
2004

Total 4……………………………………………… 2,291

Rates

Apr.
2005

May
2005

June
2005

July
2005

Aug.
2005

Sept.

Sept.

2005p

2004

Apr.
2005

2,520

2,514

2,475

2,474

2,605

2,686

1.7

1.9

1.9

1.9

1.8

1.9

2.0

2,395
146
178
577
417
272
506
125

2,391
168
183
589
420
249
488
123

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

2,537
207
211
568
447
281
557
153

2.0
2.3
1.3
2.1
2.2
1.4
3.6
.6

2.1
2.0
1.2
2.2
2.5
1.6
4.0
.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
2.6
1.6
4.4
.7

446
992
540
573

373
1,020
554
562

350
960
542
653

381
964
548
577

380
1,054
570
585

372
1,102
600
617

1.3
2.0
1.6
1.9

1.8
2.1
1.7
2.0

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
2.3
1.9
2.1

Sept.

INDUSTRY
4

Total private …………………………………… 2,166

159
Manufacturing………………………………… 181
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 529
Professional and business services………
358
Education and health services……………… 235
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
451
Government……………………………………… 127
Construction…………………………………

REGION
Northeast……………………………………… 317

950
Midwest………………………………………
492
West…………………………………………… 541
South…………………………………………

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

Sept.

Aug.

Sept.

Sept.

Aug.

Sept.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005P

3,408

3,749

3,848

2.5

2.7

2.8

3,061
10
101
256
158
98
690
120
490
80
71
236
193
43
609
542
47
495
411
57
354
135

3,348
10
148
285
189
96
686
130
428
127
98
236
198
38
629
639
65
574
475
63
412
144

3,437
13
153
287
187
99
683
113
441
128
105
247
200
47
704
633
65
569
451
38
412
162

2.7
1.6
1.4
1.7
1.7
1.8
2.6
2.1
3.2
1.6
2.2
2.8
3.1
2.0
3.5
3.1
1.7
3.4
3.1
2.9
3.2
2.4

2.9
1.5
1.9
1.9
2.1
1.8
2.6
2.2
2.7
2.5
3.0
2.8
3.1
1.7
3.5
3.6
2.5
3.8
3.4
2.9
3.5
2.5

3.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.1
1.8
2.6
1.9
2.8
2.5
3.2
2.9
3.2
2.1
3.9
3.5
2.3
3.8
3.4
2.0
3.6
2.9

347
46
302

401
43
358

410
46
364

1.6
1.6
1.6

1.9
1.5
2.0

1.9
1.7
1.9

590
1,266
739
813

676
1,399
779
895

665
1,511
782
890

2.3
2.6
2.3
2.7

2.6
2.9
2.4
3.0

2.5
3.1
2.4
2.9

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

Sept.

Aug.

Sept.

Sept.

Aug.

Sept.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

4,918

5,296

5,114

3.7

4.0

3.8

4,329
21
373
388
241
146
1,029
151
650
229
65
200
118
82
763
537
116
421
766
130
636
187

4,778
19
447
394
216
178
1,101
159
772
169
84
186
117
69
862
580
92
488
875
104
771
229

4,581
17
454
363
219
144
1,087
147
751
189
81
176
117
59
851
586
121
465
783
76
708
182

3.9
3.4
5.2
2.7
2.7
2.7
4.0
2.7
4.3
4.7
2.1
2.5
2.0
3.9
4.6
3.2
4.3
3.0
6.0
6.8
5.9
3.5

4.2
3.0
5.9
2.7
2.4
3.3
4.2
2.8
5.1
3.4
2.6
2.2
1.9
3.1
5.0
3.4
3.7
3.4
6.5
4.9
6.8
4.2

4.1
2.6
6.0
2.5
2.4
2.7
4.2
2.6
5.0
3.8
2.6
2.1
1.9
2.7
5.0
3.4
4.3
3.2
6.0
4.0
6.4
3.3

589
44
545

517
44
473

533
57
476

2.7
1.6
2.9

2.5
1.6
2.6

2.5
2.1
2.5

1,018
1,786
1,050
1,063

779
2,041
1,186
1,289

996
1,807
1,066
1,245

4.0
3.8
3.4
3.7

3.1
4.3
3.8
4.4

3.9
3.8
3.4
4.2

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

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…………………………………………………………

Sept.

Aug.

Sept.

Sept.

Aug.

Sept.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

4,725

5,731

5,186

3.6

4.3

3.9

4,354
20
403
372
239
133
964
140
681
144
75
232
138
94
691
409
70
339
970
246
724
219

5,312
22
545
448
288
160
1,201
152
853
196
90
234
166
68
844
528
77
451
1,008
175
833
392

4,810
16
461
414
253
160
1,046
124
741
180
99
170
108
62
812
483
89
394
1,107
230
877
204

3.9
3.2
5.6
2.6
2.7
2.4
3.8
2.5
4.6
2.9
2.4
2.9
2.3
4.4
4.2
2.4
2.6
2.4
7.6
12.9
6.7
4.0

4.7
3.4
7.2
3.1
3.2
3.0
4.6
2.6
5.6
4.0
2.9
2.8
2.7
3.1
4.9
3.1
3.1
3.1
7.5
8.3
7.4
7.1

4.3
2.4
6.1
2.9
2.8
3.0
4.1
2.2
4.9
3.6
3.2
2.1
1.8
2.8
4.7
2.8
3.2
2.7
8.5
12.0
7.9
3.7

371
32
339

419
44
375

376
49
327

1.7
1.2
1.8

2.0
1.6
2.1

1.7
1.8
1.7

896
1,662
1,066
1,101

954
2,116
1,379
1,281

925
1,832
1,228
1,202

3.5
3.6
3.4
3.8

3.8
4.4
4.4
4.4

3.6
3.8
3.9
4.1

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

Sept.

Aug.

Sept.

Sept.

Aug.

Sept.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

2,636

3,558

3,118

2.0

2.7

2.3

2,497
12
177
204
127
77
613
85
461
66
40
123
69
54
374
262
37
226
571
62
508
120

3,328
12
266
255
148
108
812
97
598
116
62
166
113
53
501
344
46
298
710
64
646
200

2,950
9
233
243
155
88
649
75
484
90
69
91
74
17
460
318
49
268
751
66
684
127

2.3
2.0
2.4
1.4
1.4
1.4
2.4
1.5
3.1
1.4
1.3
1.5
1.2
2.5
2.3
1.6
1.4
1.6
4.5
3.3
4.7
2.2

2.9
1.8
3.5
1.8
1.6
2.0
3.1
1.7
3.9
2.4
2.0
2.0
1.9
2.4
2.9
2.0
1.8
2.0
5.3
3.0
5.7
3.6

2.6
1.4
3.1
1.7
1.7
1.6
2.5
1.3
3.2
1.8
2.2
1.1
1.2
.8
2.7
1.8
1.8
1.8
5.8
3.5
6.2
2.3

139
10
129

230
21
208

169
20
149

.6
.4
.7

1.1
.8
1.2

.8
.7
.8

413
1,034
571
617

536
1,402
822
798

484
1,213
710
711

1.6
2.2
1.8
2.1

2.1
2.9
2.6
2.7

1.9
2.5
2.3
2.4

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

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…………………………………………………………

Sept.

Aug.

Sept.

Sept.

Aug.

Sept.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

1,742

1,819

1,770

1.3

1.4

1.3

1,559
4
194
140
90
49
296
47
187
63
23
75
37
38
276
116
30
86
356
177
179
79

1,685
9
253
162
118
44
326
43
219
64
21
53
43
10
280
149
26
123
254
108
146
179

1,619
5
212
143
81
62
337
27
232
78
21
67
24
43
302
130
37
93
336
158
178
65

1.4
.7
2.7
1.0
1.0
.9
1.2
.8
1.2
1.3
.8
.9
.6
1.8
1.7
.7
1.1
.6
2.8
9.3
1.7
1.5

1.5
1.3
3.3
1.1
1.3
.8
1.3
.7
1.4
1.3
.7
.6
.7
.5
1.6
.9
1.0
.8
1.9
5.1
1.3
3.2

1.4
.8
2.8
1.0
.9
1.2
1.3
.5
1.5
1.6
.7
.8
.4
2.0
1.8
.7
1.3
.6
2.6
8.3
1.6
1.2

183
10
174

134
11
123

151
13
138

.9
.4
.9

.7
.4
.7

.7
.5
.7

403
504
416
419

347
584
496
393

400
526
440
404

1.6
1.1
1.3
1.5

1.4
1.2
1.6
1.3

1.6
1.1
1.4
1.4

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

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…………………………………………………………

Sept.

Aug.

Sept.

Sept.

Aug.

Sept.

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

347

354

298

.3

.3

.2

298
3
32
28
22
6
55
7
33
15
11
34
32
2
40
30
3
27
43
7
37
20

299
1
26
31
22
9
64
12
36
16
7
15
9
5
63
35
6
29
45
3
42
12

241
1
15
27
17
10
60
23
26
12
9
12
10
2
50
36
3
33
20
5
15
12

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

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

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

49
13
36

55
12
43

57
16
40

.2
.5
.2

.3
.4
.2

.3
.6
.2

80
123
79
64

72
131
62
90

41
93
78
87

.3
.3
.3
.2

.3
.3
.2
.3

.2
.2
.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
p

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.
= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.