Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Economic News Release
PRINT:Print
JOLTS JLT Program Links

Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey News Release

Technical information:      (202) 691-5870     USDL 08-0454
                   http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
                                               For release:  10:00 A.M. (EDT)
Media contact:              (202) 691-5902     Tuesday, April 8, 2008


            JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER:  FEBRUARY 2008


   On the last business day of February, there were 3.8 million job openings in
the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.7 percent, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  The job openings, hires,
and total separations rates were essentially unchanged in February.  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.

   Although the month-to-month changes in job openings, hires, and turnover data are
often small, the trends over time are notable.  The job openings rate remained essen-
tially flat from August 2006 through September 2007 then began trending downward. The
hires rate has had an overall downward trend since July 2006, and the separations rate
has had an overall downward trend since November 2006.  (See tables 1, 2, and 3.)

Job Openings

   In February, the job openings rate remained at 2.7 percent.  Job openings include
only those jobs open on the last business day of the month. Over the month, the job
openings rate rose in education and health services (to 3.9 percent) and fell in man-
ufacturing (1.8 percent).  Geographically, the job openings rate did not change signi-
ficantly in any region.  Since the series began in December 2000, three industries have
consistently had higher job openings rates than the other industries:  education and
health services (3.9 percent in February), accommodation and food services (3.8 per-
cent), and professional and business services (3.7 percent).  (See table 1.)

   Over the year, the job openings rate did not rise significantly in any industry.
The rate fell over the year for total nonfarm (to 2.6 percent) and total private
(2.8 percent) as well as in several industries, including construction (1.8 percent);
durable goods manufacturing (1.6 percent); nondurable goods manufacturing (2.1 per-
cent); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (2.2 percent); information (1.7 per-
cent); other services (2.1 percent); and federal government (1.1 percent).  Region-
ally, the job openings rate fell over the year in the Northeast (2.2 percent) and in 
the South (2.8 percent).  (See table 5.)

Hires

   The hires rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent in February.  Hires are any additions
to the payroll during the month.  Over the month, the hires rate did not change signi-
ficantly in any industry or region.  As occurs nearly every month, the seasonally ad-
justed hires rate was highest in February in accommodation and food services (6.1 per-
cent) and lowest in state and local government (1.5 percent).  (See table 2.)


   From February 2007 to February 2008, the hires rate rose in construction (to
4.3 percent); other services (3.0 percent); and in federal government (2.4 percent).
Over the year, the hires rate fell in durable goods manufacturing (1.7 percent); non-
durable goods manufacturing (2.3 percent); educational services (2.0 percent); and in
the Midwest region (2.5 percent).  (See table 6.)


                                   - 2 -


Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations  
                     |--------------------------------------------------------------
       Industry      | Feb. | Jan. | Feb. | Feb. | Jan. | Feb. | Feb. | Jan. | Feb. 
                     | 2007 | 2008 | 2008p| 2007 | 2008 | 2008p| 2007 | 2008 | 2008p
---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                     |                     Levels (in thousands)
                     |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total (1)............|4,168 |3,889 |3,820 |4,800 |4,639 |4,638 |4,524 |4,477 |4,485 
                     |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
  Total private (1)..|3,706 |3,449 |3,378 |4,468 |4,227 |4,261 |4,221 |4,188 |4,205 
    Construction.....|  237 |  133 |  140 |  277 |  319 |  358 |  359 |  311 |  330 
    Manufacturing....|  341 |  286 |  246 |  362 |  326 |  285 |  409 |  348 |  353 
    Trade, trans-    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     portation, and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     utilities (2)...|  683 |  643 |  611 |1,018 |  916 |  901 |  959 |1,005 |  958 
     Retail trade....|  387 |  346 |  346 |  695 |  656 |  617 |  669 |  689 |  656 
    Professional     |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     and business    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     services........|  627 |  752 |  695 |  911 |  897 |  821 |  796 |  790 |  854 
    Education and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     health ser-     |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     vices.......... |  684 |  680 |  748 |  525 |  516 |  522 |  413 |  447 |  462 
    Leisure and      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     hospitality (3).|  544 |  515 |  519 |  935 |  824 |  850 |  831 |  800 |  848 
     Accommodation   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
      and food       |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
      services.......|  483 |  467 |  462 |  782 |  702 |  706 |  701 |  657 |  706 
  Government (4).....|  458 |  439 |  441 |  393 |  394 |  389 |  307 |  290 |  283 
   State and local   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
    government.......|  422 |  401 |  415 |  321 |  319 |  302 |  244 |  237 |  228 
                     |--------------------------------------------------------------
                     |                       Rates (percent)
                     |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total (1)............|  2.9 |  2.7 |  2.7 |  3.5 |  3.4 |  3.4 |  3.3 |  3.2 |  3.3 
                     |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
  Total private (1)..|  3.1 |  2.9 |  2.8 |  3.9 |  3.7 |  3.7 |  3.7 |  3.6 |  3.6 
    Construction.....|  3.0 |  1.8 |  1.9 |  3.6 |  4.3 |  4.8 |  4.7 |  4.2 |  4.5 
    Manufacturing....|  2.4 |  2.0 |  1.8 |  2.6 |  2.4 |  2.1 |  2.9 |  2.5 |  2.6 
    Trade, trans-    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     portation, and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     utilities (2)...|  2.5 |  2.4 |  2.2 |  3.8 |  3.4 |  3.4 |  3.6 |  3.8 |  3.6 
     Retail trade....|  2.4 |  2.2 |  2.2 |  4.5 |  4.2 |  4.0 |  4.3 |  4.4 |  4.2 
    Professional     |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     and business    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     services........|  3.4 |  4.0 |  3.7 |  5.1 |  5.0 |  4.5 |  4.5 |  4.4 |  4.7 
    Education and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     health ser-     |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     vices...........|  3.6 |  3.5 |  3.9 |  2.9 |  2.8 |  2.8 |  2.3 |  2.4 |  2.5 
    Leisure and      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     hospitality (3).|  3.9 |  3.6 |  3.7 |  7.0 |  6.0 |  6.2 |  6.2 |  5.9 |  6.2 
     Accommodation   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
      and food       |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
      services.......|  4.1 |  3.9 |  3.8 |  6.9 |  6.0 |  6.1 |  6.2 |  5.7 |  6.1 
  Government (4).....|  2.0 |  1.9 |  1.9 |  1.8 |  1.8 |  1.7 |  1.4 |  1.3 |  1.3 
    State and local  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     government......|  2.1 |  2.0 |  2.1 |  1.7 |  1.6 |  1.5 |  1.3 |  1.2 |  1.2 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
   2 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not
shown separately.
   3 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately.
   4 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
   p = preliminary.


                                   - 3 -


Separations

   The total separations, or turnover, rate remained essentially unchanged at 3.3 per-
cent in February.  Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time
during the month.  Over the month, the separations rate did not change significantly in
any industry or region.  As with hires, the seasonally adjusted separations rate was,
as usual, highest in February in accommodation and food services (6.1 percent) and low-
est in state and local government (1.2 percent).  From February 2007 to February 2008,
the total separations rate rose in healthcare and social assistance (2.3 percent); the
rate fell over the year in durable goods manufacturing (1.9 percent) and in the Midwest
region (2.4 percent).  (See tables 3 and 7.)

   Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and discharges (in-
voluntary separations), and other separations (including retirements).  The quits rate,
which can serve as a barometer of workers’ ability to change jobs, was unchanged in 
February for total nonfarm (1.8 percent) but rose in the professional and business ser-
vices industry (to 2.7 percent) and in the Northeast region (1.6 percent) and fell in 
retail trade (to 2.4 percent).  As has occurred every month since the series began in
December 2000, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest in the accommodation and
food services industry (4.3 percent) and lowest in state and local government (0.6 per-
cent).  (See table 4.)

   From February 2007 to February 2008, the quits rate did not change significantly in
any industry.  Geographically, the quits rate rose in the Northeast (to 1.2 percent) and
fell in the Midwest (to 1.3 percent).  (See table 8.)

   The other two components of total separations--layoffs and discharges, and other se-
parations--are not seasonally adjusted.  For February, the layoffs and discharges rate
(1.0 percent) and level (1.4 million) were essentially unchanged from a year earlier.
The layoffs and discharges rate in February 2008 was highest in arts, entertainment, and
recreation (2.5 percent) and lowest in state and local government (0.1 percent).  The
other separations rate (0.2 percent) and level (281,000) were little changed in February
from a year ago.  The highest other separations rate in February was in federal government
(0.6 percent).  The other separations rate is 0.2 percent or lower in most industries each
month.  (See tables 9 and 10.)

   The total separations rate is driven by the relative contribution of its three compon-
ents (quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations), with quits contributing the
largest portion.  The percentage of total separations attributable to quits has risen and
fallen over time along with total nonfarm employment levels.  The proportion of total se-
parations due to quits rose from a post-recession low of 50 percent in December 2003 to a
high of 61 percent in December 2006 (seasonally adjusted) before trending downward again.
In February 2008, quits accounted for 56 percent of total separations.  The proportion of
separations attributable to quits varies widely by industry with the highest proportion re-
gularly occurring in the accommodation and food services industry (70 percent in February)
and the lowest proportion regularly occurring in the construction industry (43 percent in
February).  (See tables 3 and 4.)


                                   - 4 -


Flows in the Labor Market

   Several industries consistently have high rates of both hires and separations.  These
include construction; retail trade; professional and business services; arts, entertain-
ment, and recreation; and accommodation and food services.  In the 12 months ending in
February 2008, these 5 industries produced 33.1 million hires and 31.8 million separations.
Thus, these five industries accounted for 58 percent of total nonfarm hires and 58 percent
of total nonfarm separations while comprising only 40 percent of total nonfarm employment.

For More Information

   For additional information, please read the Technical Note or visit the JOLTS Web site
at http://www.bls.gov/jlt/.  Additional information about JOLTS also may be obtained by
e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling (202) 691-5870.


                              ______________________________


   The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for March 2008 is scheduled to be issued on
Thursday, May 15.






                                  - 5 -


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 2007 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 up-
date, if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership classi-
fication of all establishments on a 3-year cycle.  Changes in establish-
ment 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 refer-
ence month.  Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, sala-
ried, and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vaca-
tions 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 contrac-
tors, 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 posi-
tion, 2) work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable
candidate is found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from out-
side the establishment to fill the position.  Included are full-time,
part-time, permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings.  Active re-
cruiting 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, out-
side 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.


                                  - 6 -

   Hires.  Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occur-
ring 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 contrac-
tors, 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 (ex-
cept for retirements, which are reported as other separations).  Lay-
offs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the em-
ployer 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 re-
tirements, 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 separa-
tions by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.  The quits,
layoffs and discharges, and other separations rates are computed simi-
larly, 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 dis-
charges, 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.  Con-
sistent 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 busi-
ness 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 mea-
sures 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.


                                  - 7 -

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 esti-
mates 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 rel-
atively new.  The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel en-
rolled 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 sup-
plemental 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 compar-
able with estimates for March 2002 and later.

   The federal government reorganization that involved transferring approx-
imately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland Security is not
reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal gov-
ernment.  The Office of Personnel Management's record shows these transfers
were completed in March 2003.  The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS defi-
nitions of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of
workers between establishments.  The Department of Homeland Security reor-
ganization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these inter-
governmental 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, par-
ticularly those associated with general economic expansions and contrac-
tions.  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.


                                  - 8 -

  Prior to the January  2007 benchmark release in March 2007, seasonal adjust-
ment of the JOLTS series was conducted using the stable seasonal filter option
since there were not enough data observations available for the standard use
of moving averages as seasonal filters.  Although the seasonal adjustment of
the JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than is customary,
the number of observations is now above the minimum required by  X-12-ARIMA to
use the normal seasonal filters.  Therefore, the standard use of moving aver-
ages as seasonal filter is now in place for JOLTS seasonal adjustment.  JOLTS
seasonal adjustment now includes both additive and multiplicative seasonal
adjustment models  and REGARIMA (regression  with autocorrelated errors)
modeling to improve the  seasonal adjustment factors at the beginning and end
of the series and to detect and adjust for outliers in the series.

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 seg-
ment 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, espe-
cially 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.  Addi-
tionally, 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)                              Rates

           Industry and region                Feb.   Sept.  Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.  Feb.    Feb.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.
                                              2007   2007   2007   2007   2007   2008  2008p   2007  2007  2007  2007  2007  2008  2008p

Total (4)..................................  4,168  4,080  4,044  3,972  3,974  3,889  3,820    2.9   2.9   2.8   2.8   2.8   2.7   2.7

                INDUSTRY

 Total private (4).........................  3,706  3,637  3,597  3,520  3,526  3,449  3,378    3.1   3.1   3.0   3.0   3.0   2.9   2.8
  Construction.............................    237    128    150    138    140    133    140    3.0   1.7   1.9   1.8   1.8   1.8   1.9
  Manufacturing............................    341    314    303    303    305    286    246    2.4   2.2   2.2   2.2   2.2   2.0   1.8
  Trade, transportation, and utilities (5).    683    679    644    648    667    643    611    2.5   2.5   2.4   2.4   2.4   2.4   2.2
   Retail trade............................    387    357    321    344    358    346    346    2.4   2.3   2.0   2.2   2.3   2.2   2.2
  Professional and business services.......    627    673    758    685    706    752    695    3.4   3.6   4.0   3.7   3.7   4.0   3.7
  Education and health services............    684    712    704    713    698    680    748    3.6   3.7   3.7   3.7   3.6   3.5   3.9
  Leisure and hospitality (6)..............    544    663    614    591    574    515    519    3.9   4.7   4.3   4.2   4.0   3.6   3.7
   Accommodation and food services.........    483    595    543    518    514    467    462    4.1   4.9   4.5   4.3   4.2   3.9   3.8
 Government (7)............................    458    443    448    454    446    439    441    2.0   2.0   2.0   2.0   2.0   1.9   1.9
  State and local government...............    422    403    408    404    398    401    415    2.1   2.0   2.0   2.0   2.0   2.0   2.1

                 REGION (8)

  Northeast................................    713    594    657    629    644    662    610    2.7   2.3   2.5   2.4   2.4   2.5   2.3
  South....................................  1,636  1,641  1,629  1,620  1,574  1,536  1,506    3.2   3.2   3.2   3.2   3.1   3.0   2.9
  Midwest..................................    778    787    747    755    779    749    734    2.4   2.4   2.3   2.3   2.4   2.3   2.3
  West.....................................  1,024  1,054  1,014    957    988    966    980    3.2   3.3   3.2   3.0   3.1   3.0   3.1

   1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
   2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus
job openings.
   3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
   4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
   5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.
   6 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately.
   7 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
   8 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the regions are:  Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; South:  Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of
Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
Virginia, and West Virginia; Midwest:  Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin; West:  Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming.
   p = preliminary.






Table 2.  Hires levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels (3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region                Feb.   Sept.  Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Feb.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.
                                              2007   2007   2007   2007   2007   2008   2008p  2007  2007  2007  2007  2007  2008  2008p

Total (4)..................................  4,800  4,700  4,914  4,672  4,717  4,639  4,638    3.5   3.4   3.6   3.4   3.4   3.4   3.4

                INDUSTRY

 Total private (4).........................  4,468  4,325  4,552  4,305  4,314  4,227  4,261    3.9   3.7   3.9   3.7   3.7   3.7   3.7
  Construction.............................    277    336    331    351    335    319    358    3.6   4.4   4.4   4.7   4.5   4.3   4.8
  Manufacturing..........................      362    352    396    353    350    326    285    2.6   2.5   2.9   2.6   2.5   2.4   2.1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities (5).  1,018    977  1,018    946    970    916    901    3.8   3.7   3.8   3.5   3.6   3.4   3.4
   Retail trade............................    695    699    699    655    693    656    617    4.5   4.5   4.5   4.2   4.5   4.2   4.0
  Professional and business services.......    911    799    855    902    851    897    821    5.1   4.4   4.7   5.0   4.7   5.0   4.5
  Education and health services............    525    453    517    527    460    516    522    2.9   2.5   2.8   2.8   2.5   2.8   2.8
  Leisure and hospitality (6)..............    935    888    924    846    880    824    850    7.0   6.6   6.8   6.2   6.4   6.0   6.2
   Accommodation and food services.........    782    732    803    708    713    702    706    6.9   6.3   6.9   6.1   6.1   6.0   6.1
 Government (7)............................    393    359    373    349    390    394    389    1.8   1.6   1.7   1.6   1.7   1.8   1.7
  State and local government...............    321    287    315    287    326    319    302    1.7   1.5   1.6   1.5   1.7   1.6   1.5

                 REGION (8)

  Northeast................................    705    689    653    761    770    767    768    2.8   2.7   2.5   3.0   3.0   3.0   3.0
  South....................................  1,854  1,844  1,924  1,828  1,802  1,814  1,789    3.7   3.7   3.9   3.7   3.6   3.6   3.6
  Midwest..................................  1,154  1,093  1,097  1,027  1,045    998    966    3.7   3.5   3.5   3.3   3.3   3.2   3.1
  West.....................................  1,133  1,048  1,216  1,018  1,067  1,058  1,146    3.7   3.4   3.9   3.3   3.4   3.4   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 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.
   6 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately.
   7 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
   8 See footnote 8, table 1.
   p = preliminary.






Table 3.  Total separations levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels (3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region                Feb.   Sept.  Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Feb.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.
                                              2007   2007   2007   2007   2007   2008   2008p  2007  2007  2007  2007  2007  2008  2008p

Total (4)..................................  4,524  4,456  4,594  4,640  4,408  4,477  4,485    3.3   3.2   3.3   3.4   3.2   3.2   3.3

                INDUSTRY

 Total private (4).........................  4,221  4,168  4,314  4,367  4,107  4,188  4,205    3.7   3.6   3.7   3.8   3.5   3.6   3.6
  Construction.............................    359    355    355    322    331    311    330    4.7   4.7   4.7   4.3   4.4   4.2   4.5
  Manufacturing............................    409    374    393    400    325    348    353    2.9   2.7   2.9   2.9   2.4   2.5   2.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities (5).    959    950  1,010  1,065    981  1,005    958    3.6   3.6   3.8   4.0   3.7   3.8   3.6
   Retail trade............................    669    683    702    764    686    689    656    4.3   4.4   4.5   4.9   4.4   4.4   4.2
  Professional and business services.......    796    824    935    878    814    790    854    4.5   4.6   5.2   4.9   4.5   4.4   4.7
  Education and health services............    413    414    434    423    417    447    462    2.3   2.2   2.3   2.3   2.2   2.4   2.5
  Leisure and hospitality (6)..............    831    730    761    799    803    800    848    6.2   5.4   5.6   5.9   5.9   5.9   6.2
   Accommodation and food services.........    701    645    651    667    697    657    706    6.2   5.6   5.6   5.7   6.0   5.7   6.1
 Government (7)............................    307    290    286    286    295    290    283    1.4   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.3
  State and local government...............    244    219    238    240    256    237    228    1.3   1.1   1.2   1.2   1.3   1.2   1.2

                 REGION (8)

  Northeast................................    665    635    652    860    635    697    761    2.6   2.5   2.5   3.3   2.5   2.7   3.0
  South....................................  1,770  1,786  1,764  1,709  1,712  1,699  1,671    3.6   3.6   3.5   3.4   3.4   3.4   3.4
  Midwest..................................  1,032    983    994    974    980    975    900    3.3   3.1   3.2   3.1   3.1   3.1   2.9
  West.....................................  1,035  1,038  1,186  1,117  1,117  1,107  1,168    3.4   3.4   3.8   3.6   3.6   3.6   3.8

   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 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.
   6 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately.
   7 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
   8 See footnote 8, table 1.
   p = preliminary.






Table 4.  Quits levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels (3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region                Feb.   Sept.  Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Feb.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.
                                              2007   2007   2007   2007   2007   2008   2008p  2007  2007  2007  2007  2007  2008  2008p

Total (4)..................................  2,666  2,396  2,648  2,501  2,494  2,493  2,526    1.9   1.7   1.9   1.8   1.8   1.8   1.8

                INDUSTRY

 Total private (4).........................  2,525  2,253  2,508  2,361  2,358  2,355  2,387    2.2   1.9   2.2   2.0   2.0   2.0   2.1
  Construction.............................    135    132    137    116    119    113    141    1.8   1.7   1.8   1.5   1.6   1.5   1.9
  Manufacturing............................    206    183    199    187    182    183    184    1.5   1.3   1.4   1.4   1.3   1.3   1.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities (5).    606    549    588    572    590    598    534    2.3   2.1   2.2   2.1   2.2   2.2   2.0
   Retail trade............................    441    412    432    433    445    437    374    2.9   2.7   2.8   2.8   2.9   2.8   2.4
  Professional and business services.......    454    405    479    398    367    351    490    2.5   2.2   2.7   2.2   2.0   1.9   2.7
  Education and health services............    273    253    264    269    258    276    268    1.5   1.4   1.4   1.5   1.4   1.5   1.4
  Leisure and hospitality (6)..............    568    440    545    557    561    525    550    4.3   3.2   4.0   4.1   4.1   3.8   4.0
   Accommodation and food services.........    521    367    503    516    513    465    497    4.6   3.2   4.3   4.4   4.4   4.0   4.3
 Government (7)............................    141    146    144    140    137    138    139     .6    .7    .6    .6    .6    .6    .6
  State and local government...............    118    123    128    125    120    119    117     .6    .6    .7    .6    .6    .6    .6

                 REGION (8)

  Northeast................................    320    306    338    367    312    358    411    1.2   1.2   1.3   1.4   1.2   1.4   1.6
  South....................................  1,135  1,003  1,088    996  1,008  1,045  1,020    2.3   2.0   2.2   2.0   2.0   2.1   2.1
  Midwest..................................    592    524    524    529    521    502    491    1.9   1.7   1.7   1.7   1.6   1.6   1.6
  West.....................................    611    575    691    607    632    583    624    2.0   1.9   2.2   2.0   2.0   1.9   2.0

   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 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.
   6 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately.
   7 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
   8 See footnote 8, table 1.
   p = preliminary.






Table 5.  Job openings levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Feb.     Jan.    Feb.           Feb.     Jan.     Feb.
                                                   2007     2008    2008p          2007     2008     2008p

Total...........................................  3,981    3,597    3,627           2.9      2.6      2.6

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,560    3,196    3,224           3.0      2.7      2.8
  Natural resources and mining..................     12       15       17           1.8      2.0      2.3
  Construction..................................    217      112      128           2.9      1.6      1.8
  Manufacturing.................................    346      284      246           2.4      2.0      1.8
   Durable goods................................    215      156      137           2.4      1.8      1.6
   Nondurable goods.............................    131      128      108           2.5      2.5      2.1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    625      558      537           2.3      2.1      2.0
   Wholesale trade..............................    149      153      133           2.5      2.5      2.2
   Retail trade.................................    330      296      289           2.1      1.9      1.9
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    146      109      115           2.8      2.1      2.2
  Information...................................    152       59       51           4.8      1.9      1.7
  Financial activities..........................    225      245      230           2.6      2.9      2.7
   Finance and insurance........................    183      192      184           2.9      3.1      2.9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     42       53       46           1.9      2.5      2.2
  Professional and business services............    623      743      671           3.4      4.0      3.6
  Education and health services.................    671      633      744           3.6      3.3      3.8
   Educational services.........................     58       53       50           1.8      1.8      1.6
   Health care and social assistance............    614      581      694           3.9      3.6      4.3
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    516      449      484           3.9      3.3      3.6
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     60       43       59           3.3      2.3      3.1
   Accommodation and food services.............     455      406      425           4.0      3.5      3.6
  Other services................................    173       98      115           3.1      1.8      2.1

 Government.....................................    421      401      404           1.8      1.8      1.7
  Federal.......................................     43       36       30           1.6      1.3      1.1
  State and local...............................    378      365      374           1.9      1.8      1.8

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    686      600      575           2.6      2.3      2.2
  South.........................................  1,586    1,426    1,432           3.1      2.8      2.8
  Midwest.......................................    747      685      700           2.4      2.2      2.2
  West..........................................    963      886      920           3.1      2.8      2.9

   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 8, table 1.
   p = preliminary.






Table 6.  Hires levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Feb.     Jan.    Feb.           Feb.     Jan.     Feb.
                                                   2007     2008    2008p          2007     2008     2008p

Total...........................................  4,027    3,981    3,842           3.0      2.9      2.8

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,753    3,624    3,571           3.3      3.2      3.1
  Natural resources and mining..................     21       20       20           3.0      2.8      2.8
  Construction..................................    215      235      297           3.0      3.3      4.3
  Manufacturing.................................    336      325      262           2.4      2.4      1.9
   Durable goods................................    192      188      149           2.2      2.2      1.7
   Nondurable goods.............................    144      136      113           2.9      2.7      2.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    812      710      712           3.1      2.7      2.7
   Wholesale trade..............................    138      153      116           2.3      2.5      1.9
   Retail trade.................................    539      463      469           3.6      3.0      3.1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    135       94      127           2.7      1.9      2.5
  Information...................................     55       61       41           1.8      2.1      1.4
  Financial activities..........................    175      168      206           2.1      2.1      2.5
   Finance and insurance........................    113      125      123           1.8      2.1      2.0
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     62       43       83           2.9      2.0      4.0
  Professional and business services............    832      887      728           4.7      5.0      4.1
  Education and health services.................    459      482      463           2.5      2.6      2.5
   Educational services.........................     81       65       64           2.7      2.2      2.0
   Health care and social assistance............    378      417      400           2.5      2.7      2.6
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    742      628      680           5.8      4.8      5.2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     82       94       80           4.7      5.3      4.4
   Accommodation and food services.............     660      533      599           6.0      4.7      5.3
  Other services................................    106      108      162           2.0      2.0      3.0

 Government.....................................    274      357      271           1.2      1.6      1.2
  Federal.......................................     51       66       64           1.9      2.4      2.4
  State and local...............................    224      292      207           1.1      1.5      1.0

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    505      593      559           2.0      2.3      2.2
  South.........................................  1,638    1,656    1,566           3.4      3.4      3.2
  Midwest.......................................    954      851      769           3.1      2.7      2.5
  West..........................................    930      881      949           3.1      2.9      3.1

   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 8, table 1.
   p = preliminary.






Table 7.  Total separations levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Feb.     Jan.    Feb.           Feb.     Jan.     Feb.
                                                   2007     2008    2008p          2007     2008     2008p

Total...........................................  3,730    4,349    3,697           2.7      3.2      2.7

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,529    4,117    3,519           3.1      3.6      3.1
  Natural resources and mining..................     18       28       23           2.6      3.9      3.1
  Construction..................................    316      343      290           4.4      4.9      4.2
  Manufacturing.................................    364      338      317           2.6      2.5      2.3
   Durable goods................................    228      212      168           2.6      2.4      1.9
   Nondurable goods.............................    137      127      149           2.7      2.5      3.0
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    824    1,118      800           3.2      4.2      3.1
   Wholesale trade..............................    114      164      133           1.9      2.7      2.2
   Retail trade.................................    587      785      556           3.9      5.1      3.7
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    123      170      110           2.5      3.4      2.2
  Information...................................     65       61       45           2.1      2.0      1.5
  Financial activities..........................    199      227      169           2.4      2.8      2.1
   Finance and insurance........................    130      159      109           2.1      2.6      1.8
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     69       68       59           3.2      3.2      2.8
  Professional and business services............    674      763      740           3.8      4.3      4.2
  Education and health services.................    333      411      383           1.8      2.2      2.0
   Educational services.........................     39       49       28           1.3      1.7       .9
   Health care and social assistance............    294      363      355           1.9      2.3      2.3
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    617      684      648           4.8      5.2      4.9
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     72      101       87           4.1      5.7      4.8
   Accommodation and food services.............     545      582      561           4.9      5.2      5.0
  Other services................................    118      143      105           2.2      2.6      1.9

 Government.....................................    201      232      177            .9      1.0       .8
  Federal.......................................     48       46       42           1.8      1.7      1.6
  State and local...............................    153      186      135            .8      1.0       .7

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    518      686      609           2.0      2.7      2.4
  South.........................................  1,509    1,605    1,390           3.1      3.3      2.8
  Midwest.......................................    859      994      734           2.8      3.2      2.4
  West..........................................    843    1,065      963           2.8      3.5      3.1

   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 8, table 1.
   p = preliminary.






Table 8.  Quits levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Feb.     Jan.    Feb.           Feb.     Jan.     Feb.
                                                   2007     2008    2008p          2007     2008     2008p

Total...........................................  2,168    2,193    2,064           1.6      1.6      1.5

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,067    2,085    1,965           1.8      1.8      1.7
  Natural resources and mining..................     10       14       12           1.5      1.9      1.7
  Construction..................................    101       87      107           1.4      1.2      1.5
  Manufacturing.................................    178      159      159           1.3      1.2      1.2
   Durable goods................................     96       88       87           1.1      1.0      1.0
   Nondurable goods.............................     82       71       72           1.6      1.4      1.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    508      565      445           1.9      2.1      1.7
   Wholesale trade..............................     75       75       73           1.3      1.2      1.2
   Retail trade.................................    368      413      309           2.4      2.7      2.0
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     65       77       63           1.3      1.5      1.3
  Information...................................     37       36       27           1.2      1.2       .9
  Financial activities..........................    115      133       96           1.4      1.6      1.2
   Finance and insurance........................     84       92       72           1.4      1.5      1.2
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     31       41       24           1.5      2.0      1.1
  Professional and business services............    363      323      403           2.1      1.8      2.3
  Education and health services.................    226      245      223           1.2      1.3      1.2
   Educational services.........................     18       22       16            .6       .7       .5
   Health care and social assistance............    209      223      207           1.4      1.4      1.3
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    446      438      434           3.5      3.4      3.3
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     33       41       41           1.9      2.3      2.2
   Accommodation and food services.............     413      397      393           3.7      3.5      3.5
  Other services................................     82       85       59           1.5      1.6      1.1

 Government.....................................    101      109       99            .4       .5       .4
  Federal.......................................     17       14       16            .6       .5       .6
  State and local...............................     84       94       83            .4       .5       .4

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    239      300      310            .9      1.2      1.2
  South.........................................    947      927      853           1.9      1.9      1.7
  Midwest.......................................    491      459      395           1.6      1.5      1.3
  West..........................................    490      507      506           1.6      1.7      1.7

   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 8, table 1.
   p = preliminary.






Table 9.  Layoffs and discharges levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Feb.     Jan.    Feb.           Feb.     Jan.     Feb.
                                                   2007     2008    2008p          2007     2008     2008p

Total...........................................  1,276    1,845    1,353           0.9      1.4      1.0

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,231    1,775    1,317           1.1      1.6      1.2
  Natural resources and mining..................      6       10        9            .9      1.4      1.3
  Construction..................................    193      245      168           2.7      3.5      2.4
  Manufacturing.................................    148      152      132           1.1      1.1      1.0
   Durable goods................................    101      105       69           1.1      1.2       .8
   Nondurable goods.............................     48       47       63            .9       .9      1.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    250      479      273           1.0      1.8      1.0
   Wholesale trade..............................     32       72       56            .5      1.2       .9
   Retail trade.................................    181      326      179           1.2      2.1      1.2
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     37       81       38            .7      1.6       .8
  Information...................................     25       22       15            .8       .8       .5
  Financial activities..........................     69       83       53            .8      1.0       .7
   Finance and insurance........................     37       59       24            .6      1.0       .4
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     32       24       29           1.5      1.1      1.4
  Professional and business services............    270      385      300           1.5      2.2      1.7
  Education and health services.................     88      139      122            .5       .8       .7
   Educational services.........................     18       24       11            .6       .8       .3
   Health care and social assistance............     70      115      111            .5       .7       .7
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    158      203      201           1.2      1.6      1.5
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     37       58       45           2.1      3.2      2.5
   Accommodation and food services.............     121      146      156           1.1      1.3      1.4
  Other services................................     25       56       44            .5      1.0       .8

 Government.....................................     45       70       35            .2       .3       .2
  Federal.......................................     11       15       10            .4       .6       .4
  State and local...............................     34       55       25            .2       .3       .1

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    225      329      234            .9      1.3       .9
  South.........................................    464      598      456            .9      1.2       .9
  Midwest.......................................    314      439      270           1.0      1.4       .9
  West..........................................    272      479      392            .9      1.6      1.3

   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 8, table 1.
   p = preliminary.






Table 10.  Other separations levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Feb.     Jan.    Feb.           Feb.     Jan.     Feb.
                                                   2007     2008    2008p          2007     2008     2008p

Total...........................................    286      311      281           0.2      0.2      0.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    231      257      237            .2       .2       .2
  Natural resources and mining..................      2        4        2            .2       .6       .2
  Construction..................................     23       11       15            .3       .2       .2
  Manufacturing.................................     38       27       25            .3       .2       .2
   Durable goods................................     30       19       12            .3       .2       .1
   Nondurable goods.............................      8        9       13            .1       .2       .3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     66       74       82            .3       .3       .3
   Wholesale trade..............................      7       16        5            .1       .3       .1
   Retail trade.................................     38       46       69            .3       .3       .5
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     21       12        9            .4       .2       .2
  Information...................................      3        3        3            .1       .1       .1
  Financial activities..........................     16       11       20            .2       .1       .2
   Finance and insurance........................     10        8       13            .2       .1       .2
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      6        3        6            .3       .2       .3
  Professional and business services............     41       54       37            .2       .3       .2
  Education and health services.................     19       27       38            .1       .1       .2
   Educational services.........................      3        3        2            .1       .1       .1
   Health care and social assistance............     16       24       37            .1       .2       .2
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     13       42       13            .1       .3       .1
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      2        2        1            .1       .1       .1
   Accommodation and food services.............      11       40       12            .1       .4       .1
  Other services................................     11        2        2            .2      (4)      (4)

 Government.....................................     55       54       43            .2       .2       .2
  Federal.......................................     21       17       16            .8       .6       .6
  State and local...............................     35       37       27            .2       .2       .1

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................     55       57       66            .2       .2       .3
  South.........................................     98       79       81            .2       .2       .2
  Midwest.......................................     54       96       69            .2       .3       .2
  West..........................................     80       79       65            .3       .3       .2

   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 8, table 1.
   4 Data round to zero.
   p = preliminary.






Last Modified Date: April 08, 2008