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1 Technical information: (202) 691-5870 http://www.bls.gov/jlt/ Media contact: USDL 06-1943 For release: 10:00 A.M. EST Tuesday, November 7, 2006 691-5902 JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: SEPTEMBER 2006 The job openings and total separations rates were unchanged in September, while the hires rate was essentially 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 2003 - September 2006 Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted, Percent October 2003 - September 2006 3.9 3.9 3.7 Hires 3.7 3.5 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 2004 2005 2006 2004 2005 2006 Job Openings On the last business day of September 2006, there were 4.1 million job openings in the United States and the job openings rate was 2.9 percent. The job openings rate was unchanged over the month and has been little changed since November 2005. In September, the job openings rate did not change significantly in any industry or region. The industries with the highest seasonally adjusted job openings rate in September 2006 were education and health services (3.8 percent), leisure and hospitality (3.8 percent), and professional and business services (3.7 percent). (See table 1.) Over the year, the job openings rate rose in several of the private sector industries, in state and local government, and in the Northeast region. The job openings rate did not decline significantly over the year in any industry or region. (See table 5.) Hires The hires rate was little changed at 3.5 percent in September. Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. In September, the hires rate did not rise significantly in any industry but fell in trade, transportation, and utilities and in government. Geographically, the hires rate did not change significantly 2 Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted Industry Job openings Sept. Sept. Aug. 2005 2006 2006 p 1 Total ........................................................... 3,728 Total private 1....................................... 3,285 Construction ..................................... 152 Manufacturing ................................. 285 Trade, transportation, and ............. utilities ............................................ 629 Professional and business services ........................................... 671 Education and health services ...... 630 Leisure and hospitality ................... 431 Government ........................................... 443 Sept. 2005 Hires Aug. 2006 Sept. 2006 p Levels (in thousands) 4,831 4,684 4,748 4,418 4,396 4,349 436 351 328 346 353 316 4,061 3,604 162 310 4,053 3,570 144 300 686 690 983 1,070 661 678 501 464 663 699 515 480 904 468 836 314 860 482 794 409 Total separations Sept. Aug. Sept. 2006 p 2006 2005 4,798 4,503 423 437 4,386 4,083 348 364 4,339 4,054 312 387 966 1,000 997 975 959 475 807 324 856 433 871 302 705 460 801 304 762 407 764 291 Rates (percent) Total 1.......................................................... Total private 1........................................ Construction..................................... Manufacturing ................................. Trade, transportation, and utilities ............................................ Professional and business services ........................................... Education and health services ...... Leisure and hospitality ................... Government ........................................... 1 2.7 2.8 2.0 2.0 2.9 3.1 2.1 2.1 2.9 3.0 1.9 2.1 3.5 3.9 6.0 2.4 3.6 3.9 4.7 2.5 3.5 3.8 4.4 2.2 3.6 4.0 5.8 3.1 3.2 3.6 4.6 2.6 3.2 3.6 4.1 2.7 2.4 2.6 2.6 3.8 4.1 3.7 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.8 3.5 3.3 2.0 3.7 3.7 3.7 2.1 3.7 3.8 3.8 2.1 5.3 2.7 6.5 1.4 4.9 2.7 6.1 1.9 5.5 2.7 6.2 1.5 5.0 2.5 6.8 1.4 4.1 2.6 6.1 1.4 4.4 2.3 5.8 1.3 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. p = preliminary. in any region over the month. The seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in September in the leisure and hospitality industry (6.2 percent). (See table 2.) From September 2005 to September 2006, the hires rate increased in mining and in finance and insurance but decreased in construction; arts, entertainment, and recreation; federal government; and the Northeast region. (See table 6.) Separations The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.2 percent in September. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In September, the total separations rate did not increase significantly in any industry but did decrease in education and health services. Geographically, the separations rate did not change significantly in any region over the month. (See table 3.) Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and discharges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including retirements). The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers’ ability to change jobs, edged down to 1.8 percent in September. Over the month, the quits rate did not rise significantly in any industry or region but declined in leisure and hospitality and in the South region. In September, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest in the leisure and hospitality industry (3.6 percent), which also had the highest hires rate. (See table 4.) 3 Over the year, the quits rate fell in many industries and in three of the four regions—the Midwest, South, and West. The quits rate rose significantly over the year in only one industry: real estate and rental and leasing. (See table 8.) The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not seasonally adjusted. From September 2005 to September 2006, the layoffs and discharges rate fell to 1.3 percent. For September 2006, the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry had the highest layoffs and discharges rate (12.5 percent). From September 2005 to September 2006, the other separations rate was little changed at 0.2 percent. (See tables 9 and 10.) Flows in the Labor Market Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the 12 months ending in September 2006, hires have averaged 4.9 million per month and separations have averaged 4.5 million per month (not seasonally adjusted). The comparable figures for the prior 12-month period were 4.8 million hires and 4.6 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 2006 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, December 12, 2006. Technical Note The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) are collected and compiled monthly from a sample of business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Collection Each month, data are collected in a survey of business establishments for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, fax, and mail. Coverage The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local government entities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Concepts Industry classification. The industry classifications in this release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Workforce Agencies verify with employers and update, if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership classification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establishment characteristics resulting from the verification process are always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data reported for the first month of the year. Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes the 12th day of the reference month. Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried, and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without pay or on strike for the entire pay period, are not counted as employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment where they are working. Job openings. Establishments submit job openings information for the last business day of the reference month. A job opening requires that: 1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that position, 2) work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside the establishment to fill the position. Included are full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings. Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in newspapers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using other similar methods. Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded are jobs with start dates more than 30 days in the future, jobs for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying that quotient by 100. Hires. Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occurring at any time during the reference month, including both new and rehired employees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more than 7 days, on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after having been formally separated, and transfers from other locations. The hires count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100. Separations. Separations are the total number of terminations of employment occurring at any time during the reference month, and are reported by type of separation— quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements, which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal layoffs lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges resulting from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other separations include retirements, transfers to other locations, deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not include transfers within the same location or employees on strike. The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100. The quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by employment and multiplying by 100. Annual estimates. Annual estimates of rates and levels of hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total separations are released with the January news release each year. The JOLTS annual level estimates for hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total separations are the sum of the 12 published monthly levels. The annual rate estimates are computed by dividing the annual level by the Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average employment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100. This figure will be approximately equal to the sum of the 12 monthly rates. Note that both the JOLTS and CES annual levels are rounded to the nearest thousand before the annual estimates are calculated. Consistent with BLS practices, annual estimates will be published only for not seasonally adjusted data. Annual estimates are not calculated for job openings because job openings are a stock, or point-in-time, measurement for the last business day of each month. Only jobs still open on the last day of the month are counted. For the same reason job openings cannot be cumulated throughout each month, annual figures for job openings cannot be created by summing the monthly estimates. Hires and separations are flow measures and are cumulated over the month with a total reported for the month. Therefore, the annual figures can be created by summing the monthly estimates. Sample methodology The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000 nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local governments in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program includes all employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE). The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, industry sector, and size class. Large firms fall into the sample with virtual certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates are controlled to the employment estimates of the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey. A ratio of CES to JOLTS employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels. Using JOLTS data The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel enrolled each month. A full complement of panels for the original data series based on the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data collected up until those points are from less than a full sample. Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting data at that time. In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and separations data were revised to address possible underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later. The federal government reorganization that involved transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal government. The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between establishments. The Department of Homeland Security reorganization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal government time series. Seasonal adjustment BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in the level of the series, particularly those associated with general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using all relevant data, up to and including the data for the current month. Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than is customary. The historical data, therefore, may be subject to larger than normal revisions. Since the seasonal patterns in economic data series typically emerge over time, the standard use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these effects requires longer series than are currently available. As a result, the stable seasonal filter option is used in the seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS data. When calculating seasonal factors, this filter takes an average for each calendar month after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal filter is no longer needed, other program features also may be introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended diagnostic testing. Additionally, it is expected that more series, such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may be seasonally adjusted when more data are available. Reliability of the estimates JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the “true” population values they represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate. BLS analysis is generally conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence. That means that there is a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the “true” population value because of sampling error. Estimates of sampling errors are available upon request. The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to include a segment of the population, the inability to obtain data from all units in the sample, the inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis, mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or processing of the data, and errors from the employment benchmark data used in estimation. JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment. Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations, especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period for payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the month, while the reference period for hires and separations is the calendar month; and 2) payroll employment can vary from month to month simply because part-time and on-call workers may not always work during the pay period that includes the 12th of the month. Additionally, research has found that some reporters systematically underreport separations relative to hires due to a number of factors, including the nature of their payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be about 2 percent or less over a 12-month period. Other information Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral phone: 1-800-877-8339. Table 1. Job openings levels ¹ and rates ² by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels ³ (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 Sept. 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2.7 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.8 3.1 3.0 3.0 2.9 3.1 3.0 Total 4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3,728 4,070 3,945 3,960 3,844 4,061 4,053 Sept. INDUSTRY Total private 4……………………………………………………………………………….. 3,285 3,603 3,496 3,476 3,363 3,604 3,570 Construction……………………………………………………………… 152 138 119 161 148 162 144 2.0 1.8 1.6 2.1 1.9 2.1 1.9 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 285 323 311 301 305 310 300 2.0 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 Trade, transportation, and utilities………………………… 629 672 687 640 605 686 690 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.3 2.6 2.6 Professional and business services……………………. 671 748 693 616 651 661 663 3.8 4.2 3.9 3.4 3.6 3.7 3.7 Education and health services…………………………………………. 630 674 651 659 643 678 699 3.5 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.7 3.8 Leisure and hospitality………………...…………………………… 431 485 496 487 501 515 3.3 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.8 480 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 482 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 443 467 452 467 478 464 REGION 5 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 661 672 670 699 699 773 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.9 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,451 1,600 1,591 1,507 1,498 1,548 1,543 2.9 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.1 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 760 770 787 777 739 809 790 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.5 2.4 West………………………………………………………………………….. 890 1,022 918 935 911 972 2.9 3.3 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.1 1 747 955 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month. 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. 5 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the regions are Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. p = preliminary. Table 2. Hires levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels 3 (in thousands) Industry and region Sept. 2005 Apr. 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 Rates Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 3.5 3.4 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.5 2006 2006 Total 4………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,748 4,649 4,949 4,899 4,995 4,831 4,684 Sept. INDUSTRY Total private 4…………………………………………………………………………….. 4,418 4,301 4,573 4,508 4,741 4,396 4,349 3.9 3.8 4.0 4.0 4.2 3.9 3.8 Construction……………………………………………………………… 436 376 374 366 365 351 328 6.0 5.0 5.0 4.9 4.9 4.7 4.4 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 346 328 385 378 353 316 2.4 2.3 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.2 Trade, transportation, and utilities………………………… 983 1,029 1,018 1,099 1,045 1,070 966 3.8 4.0 3.9 4.2 4.0 4.1 3.7 Professional and business services……………………. 904 858 1,006 905 380 967 860 959 5.3 5.0 5.8 5.2 5.6 4.9 5.5 Education and health services…………………………………………. 468 481 549 465 521 482 475 2.7 2.7 3.1 2.6 2.9 2.7 2.7 Leisure and hospitality………………...…………………………… 836 775 811 846 794 807 6.5 6.0 6.2 6.5 6.5 6.1 6.2 324 1.4 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.5 1.9 1.5 850 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 314 361 379 392 338 409 REGION 5 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 796 849 852 729 841 697 3.2 3.3 3.3 2.9 3.3 2.9 2.7 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,842 1,777 1,849 1,877 1,849 1,907 1,946 738 3.9 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.8 3.9 4.0 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 965 965 1,133 1,072 1,123 1,008 965 3.1 3.1 3.6 3.4 3.6 3.2 3.1 West………………………………………………………………………….. 1,139 1,152 1,114 1,207 1,177 1,160 1,104 3.8 3.9 3.7 4.0 3.9 3.9 3.7 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. 5 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 3. Total separations levels ¹ and rates ² by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Level ³ (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 Sept. 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 3.6 3.3 3.6 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.2 4.0 3.7 4.0 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.6 Total 4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,798 4,495 4,811 4,631 4,479 4,386 4,339 Sept. INDUSTRY Total private 4……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,503 4,203 4,488 4,299 4,168 4,083 4,054 Construction……………………………………………………………… 423 373 478 324 415 348 312 5.8 5.0 6.4 4.3 5.5 4.6 4.1 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 437 346 381 370 358 364 387 3.1 2.4 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.7 Trade, transportation, and utilities………………………… 1,000 1,022 1,046 1,082 935 997 975 3.9 3.9 4.0 4.2 3.6 3.8 3.7 Professional and business services……………………. 856 790 833 735 705 762 5.0 4.6 4.8 4.4 4.2 4.1 4.4 Education and health services…………………………………………. 433 437 487 424 431 460 407 2.5 2.5 2.8 2.4 2.4 2.6 2.3 Leisure and hospitality………………...…………………………… 871 770 799 802 801 764 6.8 5.9 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.1 5.8 291 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3 760 3.2 2.8 3.1 2.8 3.0 2.7 3.0 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,779 1,710 1,828 1,858 1,687 1,703 1,634 3.7 3.5 3.8 3.8 3.5 3.5 3.4 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 1,065 992 1,045 871 1,087 942 896 3.4 3.2 3.3 2.8 3.4 3.0 2.8 West………………………………………………………………………….. 1,127 1,116 1,136 1,137 979 1,070 1,046 3.8 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.3 3.6 3.5 755 818 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 302 302 324 315 306 304 REGION 5 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 797 711 779 724 763 695 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month. 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. 5 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 4. Quits levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels3 (in thousands) Industry and region Sept. 2005 Apr. 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 Rates Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.8 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.0 2006 2006 Total 4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,681 2,541 2,723 2,699 2,623 2,597 2,401 Sept. INDUSTRY Total private 4……………………………………………………………………………….. 2,529 2,383 2,565 2,554 2,469 2,442 2,260 Construction……………………………………………………………… 210 167 207 154 157 143 123 2.9 2.2 2.8 2.0 2.1 1.9 1.6 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 213 175 202 190 189 194 181 1.5 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 Trade, transportation, and utilities………………………… 566 613 622 615 586 604 582 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.2 Professional and business services……………………. 448 409 434 386 412 388 393 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.2 2.4 2.2 2.3 Education and health services…………………………………………. 283 253 276 290 277 300 272 1.6 1.4 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.5 Leisure and hospitality………………...…………………………… 557 535 533 622 542 476 4.3 4.1 4.1 4.8 4.2 4.1 3.6 146 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 549 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 154 159 159 146 156 153 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 361 370 370 358 378 378 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.5 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,125 1,026 1,152 1,153 1,081 1,095 404 983 2.4 2.1 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.0 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 574 575 581 552 562 551 511 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.6 West………………………………………………………………………….. 627 593 612 631 598 543 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.0 1.8 1.8 553 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. 5 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 5. Job openings levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept. 2005 2006 p 2005 2006 2006p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3,897 4,396 4,235 2.8 3.1 3.0 3,765 3.0 3.3 3.2 23 2.5 2.3 3.2 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 153 180 143 2.0 2.2 1.8 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 294 336 309 2.0 2.3 2.1 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 196 218 198 2.1 2.4 2.2 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 99 117 110 1.8 2.2 2.1 2006 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 3,465 3,890 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 17 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 708 16 764 780 2.7 2.8 2.9 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 119 146 165 2.0 2.4 2.7 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 461 453 465 2.9 2.9 3.0 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 165 150 2.5 3.2 2.9 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 112 153 166 3.5 4.7 5.2 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 257 253 235 3.1 2.9 2.7 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 209 200 196 3.4 3.1 3.1 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 128 48 53 38 2.2 2.3 1.7 Professional and business services………………………………….708 726 699 4.0 4.0 3.8 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 652 722 728 3.6 4.0 3.9 62 61 2.4 2.4 2.1 660 667 3.8 4.2 4.3 557 506 3.0 3.9 3.7 62 59 2.3 2.7 2.9 496 447 3.2 4.1 3.8 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 157 182 177 2.8 3.2 3.2 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 432 506 469 2.0 2.4 2.1 Educational services………………………………………………………. 69 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 583 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 407 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 46 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 361 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 48 52 38 1.7 1.9 1.4 432 2.0 2.4 2.2 834 2.7 3.2 3.2 1,581 3.0 3.3 3.2 840 2.5 2.8 2.6 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 895 1,030 979 2.9 3.3 3.1 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 384 455 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 702 829 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,491 1,631 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 810 905 1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month. 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 6. Hires levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Sept. 2005 Rates Aug. 2006 2006p 3.9 4.1 3.8 4.3 4.3 4.1 2.3 3.7 4.4 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 449 351 333 6.0 4.5 4.3 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 362 408 329 Industry and region Levels (in thousands) Sept. Aug. Sept. 2005 2006 2006p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5,268 5,588 5,153 Sept. INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,788 4,933 4,666 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 15 26 30 2.5 2.8 2.3 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 213 254 184 2.4 2.8 2.0 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 149 154 145 2.8 2.9 2.8 1,069 4.3 4.6 4.1 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 151 168 142 2.6 2.9 2.4 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 762 783 741 5.0 5.1 4.9 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 200 186 4.0 5.0 3.7 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 81 93 81 2.6 3.0 2.6 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 188 199 233 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 1,113 1,200 250 2.3 2.4 2.8 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 117 127 152 2.0 2.1 2.5 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 71 Professional and business services…………………………………. 929 72 82 3.3 3.3 3.7 968 989 5.4 5.5 5.6 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 606 601 611 3.5 3.4 3.4 Educational services………………………………………………………. 131 94 128 4.7 3.7 4.6 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 475 483 3.3 3.4 3.2 807 6.5 6.5 6.1 99 71 7.4 4.5 3.6 792 736 6.3 6.9 6.5 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 201 196 183 3.7 3.6 3.4 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 480 655 488 2.2 3.1 2.2 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 59 83 43 2.2 3.1 1.6 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 420 572 444 2.2 3.2 2.3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 1,037 802 884 4.1 3.2 3.5 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,860 2,275 1,985 3.9 4.7 4.1 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 1,117 1,201 1,082 3.6 3.8 3.4 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1,255 1,309 1,203 4.2 4.4 4.0 507 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 845 891 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 147 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 697 REGION 3 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 7. Total separations levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Sept. 2005 Rates Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept. 2006 p 2005 2006 2006 4.0 4.1 3.6 4.5 4.5 4.0 2006 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5,419 5,617 4,865 p INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 5,046 5,152 4,512 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 17 23 2.7 3.3 3.2 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 463 400 336 6.1 22 5.1 4.3 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 444 449 396 3.1 3.1 2.8 3.1 2.9 2.7 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 276 265 244 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 168 183 153 3.2 3.5 2.9 1,028 4.1 4.5 4.0 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 135 183 135 2.3 3.1 2.3 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 742 810 710 4.9 5.3 4.7 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 188 183 3.8 3.8 3.6 83 3.2 3.3 2.7 202 2.3 2.9 2.4 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 113 160 122 1.9 2.6 2.0 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 71 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 1,065 1,179 186 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 97 102 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 184 243 83 80 3.3 3.7 3.7 896 783 5.2 5.1 4.5 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 475 588 446 2.7 3.4 2.5 3.0 3.8 2.1 Professional and business services…………………………………. 884 Educational services………………………………………………………. 85 97 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 390 491 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 1,199 1,010 60 386 2.7 3.3 2.6 1,042 9.2 7.4 7.8 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 313 152 314 15.8 6.9 15.9 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 886 858 728 8.0 7.4 6.4 174 4.0 4.8 3.2 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 373 465 353 1.7 2.2 1.6 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 57 88 33 2.1 3.2 1.2 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 316 377 320 1.7 2.1 1.7 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 1,000 908 959 4.0 3.6 3.8 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,878 2,201 1,680 3.9 4.5 3.5 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 1,244 1,237 1,031 4.0 3.9 3.3 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1,297 1,270 1,195 4.4 4.2 4.0 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 217 263 REGION 3 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month. 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 8. Quits levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Sept. Rates Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept. 2006 p 2005 2006 2006p 2.3 2.7 2.0 2.6 2.9 2.3 1.4 2.3 1.7 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 233 190 141 3.1 2.4 1.8 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 247 274 206 1.7 1.9 1.4 120 1.7 1.8 1.3 86 1.8 2.1 1.6 2005 2006 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3,105 3,623 2,764 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 2,936 3,373 2,606 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 9 16 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 153 161 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 95 113 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 643 814 12 656 2.5 3.1 2.5 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 85 125 86 1.5 2.1 1.5 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 465 573 472 3.1 3.8 3.1 98 1.9 2.3 1.9 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 68 72 61 2.2 2.3 2.0 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 107 147 124 1.3 1.8 1.5 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 77 103 75 1.3 1.7 1.2 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 29 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 93 116 44 49 1.4 2.0 2.2 553 402 2.7 3.1 2.3 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 318 404 302 1.8 2.3 1.7 34 1.6 2.4 1.2 268 1.9 2.3 1.8 Professional and business services…………………………………. 463 Educational services………………………………………………………. 45 60 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 273 345 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 719 748 607 5.5 5.4 4.6 75 62 3.6 3.4 3.1 673 545 5.9 5.8 4.8 95 2.4 2.8 1.8 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 169 250 157 .8 1.2 .7 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 23 41 20 .8 1.5 .8 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 146 209 137 .8 1.2 .7 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 470 589 492 1.9 2.3 1.9 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,236 1,467 1,064 2.6 3.0 2.2 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 675 815 588 2.2 2.6 1.9 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 722 752 620 2.4 2.5 2.1 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 72 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 647 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 129 155 REGION 3 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Sept. Rates Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept. 2006 p 2005 2006 2006p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,967 1,644 1,779 1.5 1.2 1.3 1.6 1.3 1.4 1.2 .5 1.2 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 215 193 161 2.8 2.5 2.1 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 154 141 161 1.1 1.0 1.1 105 1.0 .9 1.2 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 65 61 56 1.2 1.2 1.1 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 358 289 2005 2006 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 1,817 1,504 1,624 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 8 3 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 89 80 8 286 1.4 1.1 1.1 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 30 52 39 .5 .9 .7 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 242 185 177 1.6 1.2 1.2 69 1.7 1.1 1.4 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 20 19 15 .7 .6 .5 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 67 77 57 .8 .9 .7 .4 .7 .5 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 86 53 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 27 43 29 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 41 34 29 1.9 1.5 1.3 Professional and business services…………………………………. 336 306 342 2.0 1.7 1.9 116 .7 .9 .7 Educational services………………………………………………………. 37 34 19 1.3 1.3 .7 Health care and social assistance…………………………….89 115 98 .6 .8 .7 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 460 233 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 126 148 416 3.5 1.7 3.1 75 248 12.0 3.4 12.5 158 168 2.0 1.4 1.5 62 1.4 1.7 1.2 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 151 140 155 .7 .7 .7 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 239 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 221 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 73 94 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 15 29 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 136 111 REGION 6 .5 1.1 .2 149 .7 .6 .8 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 493 268 401 2.0 1.1 1.6 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 536 612 514 1.1 1.3 1.1 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 464 341 367 1.5 1.1 1.2 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 474 424 498 1.6 1.4 1.7 1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month. 2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 10. Other separations levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Sept. Rates Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept. 2006 p 2005 2006 2006p 0.3 0.3 0.2 .3 .2 .2 .1 .6 .4 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 15 17 33 .2 .2 .4 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 43 34 30 .3 .2 .2 2005 2006 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 347 350 322 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 293 275 281 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 1 4 3 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 34 24 19 .4 .3 .2 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 8 10 11 .2 .2 .2 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 63 77 86 .2 .3 .3 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 20 7 9 .4 .1 .2 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 34 52 61 .2 .3 .4 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....9 16 .2 .4 .3 7 .3 .4 .2 21 .1 .2 .2 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 9 14 18 .2 .2 .3 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 1 17 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 9 11 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 10 18 5 2 .1 .2 .1 36 40 .5 .2 .2 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 31 35 28 .2 .2 .2 7 .1 .1 .3 21 .2 .2 .1 Professional and business services…………………………………. 86 Educational services………………………………………………………. 3 4 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 28 32 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 20 29 18 .2 .2 .1 2 4 .1 .1 .2 27 15 .2 .2 .1 16 .3 .3 .3 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 54 75 40 .2 .4 .2 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 19 18 6 .7 .7 .2 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 35 57 34 .2 .3 .2 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 37 52 66 .1 .2 .3 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 105 123 101 .2 .3 .2 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 105 81 76 .3 .3 .2 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 100 95 78 .3 .3 .3 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 2 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 18 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 15 14 REGION 3 1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month. 2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary.