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Economic News Release
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Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey News Release

                                   
For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, July 12, 2011        USDL-11-1032

Technical information:   (202) 691-5870  •  JoltsInfo@bls.gov  •  www.bls.gov/jlt
Media contact:           (202) 691-5902  •  PressOffice@bls.gov


              Job Openings and Labor Turnover – May 2011

There were 3.0 million job openings on the last business day of May,
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The hires rate
(3.1 percent) and separations rate (3.1 percent) were again little
changed over the month. This release includes estimates of the number
and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm
sector by industry and by geographic region.

Job Openings
The number of job openings in May was 3.0 million, unchanged from
April. (See table 1.) The number of job openings in May was 862,000
higher than in July 2009 (the series trough) but remains well below
the 4.4 million openings when the recession began in December 2007.

The number of job openings in May (not seasonally adjusted) rose over
the last 12 months for total private as the number of job openings
rose in durable goods manufacturing; transportation, warehousing, and
utilities; information; and healthcare and social assistance. The
level decreased over the year for federal government due largely to a
drop in the number of temporary workers needed to conduct the 2010
Census. (See table 5.)

Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
     Industry      | May  | Apr. | May  | May  | Apr. | May  | May  | Apr. | May
                   | 2010 | 2011 | 2011p| 2010 | 2011 | 2011p| 2010 | 2011 | 2011p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                     Levels (in thousands)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total..............|2,790 |2,953 |2,974 |4,347 |4,001 |4,070 |3,929 |3,833 |4,059
                   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
 Total private(1)..|2,423 |2,635 |2,657 |3,613 |3,733 |3,797 |3,603 |3,528 |3,761
  Construction.....|   79 |   90 |   87 |  312 |  355 |  348 |  338 |  357 |  348
  Manufacturing....|  189 |  226 |  223 |  251 |  257 |  259 |  235 |  241 |  268
  Trade, trans-    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   portation, and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   utilities(2)....|  398 |  524 |  474 |  766 |  791 |  801 |  755 |  725 |  800
   Retail trade....|  249 |  312 |  274 |  527 |  556 |  554 |  531 |  511 |  563
  Professional     |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   and business    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   services........|  574 |  497 |  580 |  755 |  831 |  861 |  745 |  785 |  853
  Education and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   health ser-     |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   vices...........|  516 |  550 |  590 |  467 |  468 |  483 |  429 |  428 |  446
  Leisure and      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   hospitality.....|  266 |  305 |  293 |  624 |  653 |  633 |  656 |  621 |  645
   Arts, enter-    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
    tainment and   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
    recreation.....|   41 |   36 |   37 |  105 |  107 |  117 |  112 |  109 |  128
   Accommodation   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
    and food       |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
    services.......|  226 |  269 |  256 |  518 |  546 |  516 |  544 |  512 |  518
 Government(3).....|  367 |  319 |  317 |  734 |  269 |  274 |  326 |  304 |  298
  State and local  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   government......|  239 |  268 |  269 |  239 |  244 |  244 |  259 |  278 |  269
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                       Rates (percent)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total..............|  2.1 |  2.2 |  2.2 |  3.3 |  3.1 |  3.1 |  3.0 |  2.9 |  3.1
                   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
 Total private(1)..|  2.2 |  2.4 |  2.4 |  3.4 |  3.4 |  3.5 |  3.4 |  3.2 |  3.5
  Construction.....|  1.4 |  1.6 |  1.6 |  5.6 |  6.4 |  6.3 |  6.1 |  6.5 |  6.3
  Manufacturing....|  1.6 |  1.9 |  1.9 |  2.2 |  2.2 |  2.2 |  2.0 |  2.1 |  2.3
  Trade, trans-    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   portation, and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   utilities(2)....|  1.6 |  2.1 |  1.9 |  3.1 |  3.2 |  3.2 |  3.1 |  2.9 |  3.2
   Retail trade....|  1.7 |  2.1 |  1.8 |  3.7 |  3.8 |  3.8 |  3.7 |  3.5 |  3.9
  Professional     |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   and business    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   services........|  3.3 |  2.8 |  3.3 |  4.5 |  4.9 |  5.0 |  4.5 |  4.6 |  5.0
  Education and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   health ser-     |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   vices...........|  2.6 |  2.7 |  2.9 |  2.4 |  2.4 |  2.4 |  2.2 |  2.1 |  2.2
  Leisure and      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   hospitality.....|  2.0 |  2.3 |  2.2 |  4.8 |  4.9 |  4.8 |  5.0 |  4.7 |  4.9
   Arts, enter-    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
    tainment and   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
    recreation.....|  2.1 |  1.9 |  1.9 |  5.5 |  5.6 |  6.2 |  5.9 |  5.7 |  6.7
   Accommodation   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
    and food       |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
    services.......|  2.0 |  2.3 |  2.2 |  4.7 |  4.8 |  4.6 |  4.9 |  4.5 |  4.6
 Government(3).....|  1.6 |  1.4 |  1.4 |  3.2 |  1.2 |  1.2 |  1.4 |  1.4 |  1.3
  State and local  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   government......|  1.2 |  1.4 |  1.4 |  1.2 |  1.3 |  1.3 |  1.3 |  1.4 |  1.4
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
  2 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not
shown separately.
  3 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
  p = Preliminary

Hires
In May, the hires rate was unchanged at 3.1 percent for total nonfarm.
The hires rate was also essentially unchanged for all industries and
regions. (See table 2.) At 4.1 million in May, the number of hires is
up from 3.6 million in October 2009 (the series trough) but remains
below the 5.0 million hires when the recession began in December 2007.

Over the past 12 months, the hires rate (not seasonally adjusted)
showed no significant over-the-year increase in any industry or
region.  The hires rate fell in federal government and in the West.
(See table 6.)

Separations
The total separations figure includes voluntary quits, involuntary
layoffs and discharges, and other separations, including retirements.
Total separations is also referred to as turnover.

The seasonally adjusted total separations rate was essentially
unchanged in May for total nonfarm (3.1 percent) and government (1.3
percent); the rate increased for total private (to 3.5 percent). (See
table 3.) Over the year, the total separations rate (not seasonally
adjusted) was essentially unchanged for total nonfarm, total private,
and government. (See table 7.)

The quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or
ability to change jobs. In May, the quits rate was essentially
unchanged for total nonfarm (1.5 percent), total private (1.7
percent), and government (0.6 percent). (See table 4.) Although the
number of quits rose from 1.5 million in January 2010 (the most recent
trough) to 2.0 million in May 2011, the number remained below the 2.8
million quits when the recession began in December 2007.

The number of quits (not seasonally adjusted) in May 2011 was higher
than 12 months earlier for total nonfarm, total private, and
government. Several industries experienced a rise in the number of
quits over the year, and federal government experienced a decline. In
the regions, the number of quits rose in the South but was little
changed in the other three regions. (See table 8.)

The layoffs and discharges component of total separations is
seasonally adjusted only at the total nonfarm, total private, and
government levels. The layoffs and discharges rate was little changed
in May for total nonfarm, total private, and government. The number of
layoffs and discharges for total nonfarm was 1.8 million in May, up
slightly from the recent low point of 1.5 million in January 2011, but
still well below the peak of 2.5 million in February 2009. (See table
B below.)

The layoffs and discharges level (not seasonally adjusted) was
essentially unchanged over the 12 months ending in May for total
nonfarm and total private. The level decreased over the year for
federal government, returning to a more typical level after a large
number of layoffs in May 2010 of temporary Census workers. The number
of layoffs and discharges was steady in the regions. (See table 9.)

Table B.  Layoffs and discharges by industry, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                   | Levels (in thousands) |    Rates (percent)
                   |------------------------------------------------
     Industry      |  May  |  Apr. |  May  |  May  |  Apr. |  May
                   |  2010 |  2011 |  2011p|  2010 |  2011 |  2011p
-------------------|------------------------------------------------
Total..............| 1,816 | 1,603 | 1,775 |  1.4  |  1.2  |  1.4
 Total private.....| 1,660 | 1,469 | 1,663 |  1.5  |  1.3  |  1.5
 Government........|   157 |   134 |   112 |  0.7  |  0.6  |  0.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------
  p = Preliminary

The other separations series is not seasonally adjusted. In May, there
were 302,000 other separations for total nonfarm, 234,000 for total
private, and 68,000 for government. Compared to May 2010, the number
of other separations was little changed for total nonfarm, total
private, and government. (See table 10.)

Relative Contributions to Separations
The total separations level is influenced by the relative contribution
of its three components—quits, layoffs and discharges, and other
separations. The percentage of total separations attributable to the
individual components has varied over time at the total nonfarm level,
but for the majority of the months since the series began in December
2000, the proportion of quits has exceeded the proportion of layoffs
and discharges. Other separations is historically a very small portion
of total separations; it has rarely been above 10 percent of total
separations.

The proportions of quits and layoffs and discharges were last equal in
November 2010. Since then, the proportion of quits has trended upward,
again exceeding the proportion of layoffs and discharges, which has
trended downward. In May, the proportion of quits for total nonfarm
was 49 percent and the proportion of layoffs and discharges was 44
percent. The proportions were similar for total private with 50
percent quits and 44 percent layoffs and discharges. For government,
the proportions were 41 percent quits and 38 percent layoffs and
discharges. (See table C below.)

Table C.  Quits and layoffs and discharges as a percentage of total separations, seasonally adjusted
(Levels in thousands)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                       Quits                      |             Layoffs and discharges
                   | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   |      May       |      Apr.      |      May       |      May       |      Apr.      |      May
                   |      2010      |      2011      |      2011p     |      2010      |      2011      |      2011p
     Industry      | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   |       |Portion |       |Portion |       |Portion |       |Portion |       |Portion |       |Portion
                   | Level |of total| Level |of total| Level |of total| Level |of total| Level |of total| Level |of total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total..............| 1,816 |   46%  | 1,887 |   49%  | 1,997 |   49%  | 1,816 |   46%  | 1,603 |   42%  | 1,775 |   44%
 Total private.....| 1,712 |   48%  | 1,771 |   50%  | 1,875 |   50%  | 1,660 |   46%  | 1,469 |   42%  | 1,663 |   44%
 Government........|   105 |   32%  |   117 |   38%  |   122 |   41%  |   157 |   48%  |   134 |   44%  |   112 |   38%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  p = Preliminary

Net Change in Employment
Over the 12 months ending in May, not seasonally adjusted data totaled
47.5 million hires and 46.7 million separations, yielding a net
employment gain of 0.7 million. These figures include workers who may
have been hired and separated more than once during the year. Nearly
half of the hires and nearly half of the separations during these 12
months occurred in three industries: retail trade; professional and
business services; and accommodation and food services. The large
share of total hires and separations accounted for by these three
industries reflects the size of the industries as well as their
relatively high hires and separations rates.

____________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey results for June 2011 are
scheduled to be released on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.
(EDT).




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

  In a monthly survey of business establishments, data are
collected for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs
and discharges, and other separations.  Data collection methods
include computer-assisted telephone interviewing, touchtone data
entry, web, fax, e-mail, 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 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 are 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.

Special collection procedures

  An implied measure of employment change can be derived from the
JOLTS data by subtracting separations from hires for a given
month.  Aggregating these monthly changes historically produced
employment levels that overstated employment change as measured by
CES at the total nonfarm level.  Research into this problem showed
that a significant amount of the divergence between the CES
employment levels and the derived JOLTS employment levels was
traceable to the Employment Services industry and to the State
Government Education industry.  In the former industry, businesses
have a difficult time reporting hires and separations of temporary
help workers.  In the latter industry, employers have difficulty
reporting hires and separations of student workers.  BLS now
devotes additional resources to the collection, editing, and review
of data for these industries.  BLS analysts more closely examine
reported data that do not provide a consistent picture over time,
and re-contact the respondents as necessary.  Analysts work with
the respondents to adjust their reporting practices as possible.
Units that cannot be reconciled but are clearly incorrect on a
consistent basis are not used, they are replaced by imputed values
using standard techniques.

Sample and estimation methodology

  The JOLTS survey 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 9.1 million establishments compiled as part of the
operations of the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (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. The JOLTS sample is constructed from
individual panels of sample units drawn on an annual basis. The
full annual sample consists of one certainty panel composed of only
large units selected with virtual certainty based on their size and
24 non-certainty panels.  Each month a new non-certainty panel is
rolled into collection, and the oldest non-certainty panel is
rolled out.  This means that at any given time the JOLTS sample is
constructed from panels from three different annual sampling
frames.  The entire sample of old plus new panels is post-
stratified and re-weighted annually to represent the most recent
sampling frame.  Additionally, the out-of-business establishments
are removed from the old panels.  The annual sample is supplemented
with a quarterly sample of birth establishments (i.e., new
establishments) to better reflect the impact of younger
establishments in the JOLTS sample.

  JOLTS total employment estimates are benchmarked monthly 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.

  JOLTS business birth/death model

  As with any sample survey, the JOLTS sample can only be as
current as its sampling frame.  The time lag from the birth of an
establishment until its appearance on the sampling frame is
approximately one year.  In addition, many of these new units may
fail within the first year.  Since these universe units cannot be
reflected on the sampling frame immediately, the JOLTS
sample cannot capture job openings, hires, and separations from
these units during their early existence.  BLS has developed a model
to estimate birth/death activity for current months by examining the
birth/death activity from previous years on the QCEW and projecting
forward to the present using an econometric technique known as X-12
ARIMA modeling. The birth/death model also uses historical JOLTS data
to estimate the amount of “churn” (hires and separations) that
exists in establishments of various sizes.  The model then combines
the estimated churn with the projected employment change to
estimate the number of hires and separations taking place in these
units that cannot be measured through sampling.

  The model-based estimate of total separations is distributed to
the three components–-quits; layoffs and discharges; and other
separations--in proportion to their contribution to the sample-
based estimate of total separations.  Additionally, job openings
for the modeled units are estimated by computing the ratio of
openings to hires in the collected data and applying that ratio to
the modeled hires.  The estimates of job openings, hires, and
separations produced by the birth/death model are then added to the
sample-based estimates produced from the survey to arrive at the
estimates for openings, hires, and separations.

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.

  JOLTS uses moving averages as seasonal filters in seasonal
adjustment.  JOLTS seasonal adjustment 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.

Alignment procedure

  JOLTS hires minus separations should be comparable to the CES net
employment change.  However, definitional differences as well as
sampling and non-sampling errors between the two surveys
historically caused JOLTS to diverge from CES over time. To limit
the divergence, and improve the quality of the JOLTS hires and
separations series, BLS implemented the Monthly Alignment Method.
The Monthly Alignment Method applies the CES employment trends to
the seasonally adjusted JOLTS implied employment trend (hires minus
separations) forcing them to be approximately the same, while
preserving the seasonality of the JOLTS data.  First, the two
series are seasonally adjusted and the difference between the JOLTS
implied employment trend and the CES net employment change is
calculated. Next, the JOLTS implied employment trend is adjusted to
equal the CES net employment change through a proportional
adjustment. This proportional adjustment procedure adjusts the two
components (hires, separations) proportionally to their
contribution to the total churn (hires plus separations).  For
example, if hires are 40 percent of the churn for a given month,
they will receive 40 percent of the needed adjustment and
separations will receive 60 percent of the needed adjustment. The
adjusted hires and separations are converted back to not seasonally
adjusted data by reversing the application of the original seasonal
factors.  After the Monthly Alignment Method has been used to
adjust the level estimates, rate estimates are computed from the
adjusted levels.  The monthly alignment procedure assures a close
match of the JOLTS implied employment trend with the CES trend. The
CES series is considered a highly accurate measure of net
employment change owing to its very large sample size and annual
benchmarking to universe counts of employment from the QCEW
program.

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 to 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.

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.

Other information

  Information in this release will be made available to sensory
impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone: (202) 691-5200;
Federal Relay Service: (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              May    Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.   May    May   Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May
                                            2010   2010   2011   2011   2011   2011   2011p  2010  2010  2011  2011  2011  2011  2011p

Total.................................     2,790  2,921  2,741  3,025  3,123  2,953  2,974    2.1   2.2   2.1   2.3   2.3   2.2   2.2

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)........................  2,423  2,500  2,418  2,695  2,793  2,635  2,657    2.2   2.3   2.2   2.4   2.5   2.4   2.4
  Construction...........................     79     44     60     55     68     90     87    1.4    .8   1.1   1.0   1.2   1.6   1.6
  Manufacturing..........................    189    184    207    209    235    226    223    1.6   1.6   1.7   1.8   2.0   1.9   1.9
  Trade, transportation, and utilities(5)    398    463    470    448    472    524    474    1.6   1.8   1.9   1.8   1.9   2.1   1.9
   Retail trade..........................    249    268    263    232    254    312    274    1.7   1.8   1.8   1.6   1.7   2.1   1.8
  Professional and business services.....    574    609    459    606    613    497    580    3.3   3.5   2.6   3.4   3.5   2.8   3.3
  Education and health services..........    516    510    482    553    609    550    590    2.6   2.5   2.4   2.7   3.0   2.7   2.9
  Leisure and hospitality................    266    270    301    378    340    305    293    2.0   2.0   2.3   2.8   2.5   2.3   2.2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation...     41     41     39     48     41     36     37    2.1   2.1   2.0   2.5   2.1   1.9   1.9
   Accommodation and food services.......    226    229    262    330    299    269    256    2.0   2.0   2.3   2.9   2.6   2.3   2.2
 Government(6).........................      367    421    323    330    331    319    317    1.6   1.9   1.4   1.5   1.5   1.4   1.4
  State and local government.............    239    319    259    260    274    268    269    1.2   1.6   1.3   1.3   1.4   1.4   1.4


                 REGION(7)

  Northeast...........................       616    548    492    594    675    531    590    2.4   2.2   1.9   2.3   2.6   2.1   2.3
  South...............................     1,013  1,023    960  1,082  1,082    985  1,026    2.1   2.1   2.0   2.2   2.2   2.0   2.1
  Midwest.............................       538    617    513    630    672    664    723    1.8   2.0   1.7   2.1   2.2   2.2   2.4
  West................................       667    829    573    715    752    681    709    2.3   2.8   2.0   2.4   2.5   2.3   2.4


  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 and because not all series are shown.
  4 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.
  6 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
  7 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              May    Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.   May    May   Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May
                                            2010   2010   2011   2011   2011   2011   2011p  2010  2010  2011  2011  2011  2011  2011p

Total.................................     4,347  3,905  3,769  3,986  4,067  4,001  4,070    3.3   3.0   2.9   3.1   3.1   3.1   3.1

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)........................  3,613  3,631  3,494  3,729  3,807  3,733  3,797    3.4   3.4   3.2   3.4   3.5   3.4   3.5
  Construction...........................    312    356    254    369    338    355    348    5.6   6.5   4.6   6.7   6.1   6.4   6.3
  Manufacturing..........................    251    264    246    250    269    257    259    2.2   2.3   2.1   2.1   2.3   2.2   2.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities(5)    766    756    783    816    803    791    801    3.1   3.1   3.2   3.3   3.2   3.2   3.2
   Retail trade..........................    527    476    536    547    553    556    554    3.7   3.3   3.7   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8
  Professional and business services.....    755    780    810    791    840    831    861    4.5   4.6   4.8   4.7   4.9   4.9   5.0
  Education and health services..........    467    465    437    468    470    468    483    2.4   2.4   2.2   2.4   2.4   2.4   2.4
  Leisure and hospitality................    624    596    588    632    681    653    633    4.8   4.6   4.5   4.8   5.2   4.9   4.8
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation...    105     98     84    101    120    107    117    5.5   5.2   4.5   5.3   6.3   5.6   6.2
   Accommodation and food services.......    518    498    504    531    560    546    516    4.7   4.5   4.5   4.7   5.0   4.8   4.6
 Government(6).........................      734    274    275    257    260    269    274    3.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2
  State and local government.............    239    242    242    218    229    244    244    1.2   1.2   1.3   1.1   1.2   1.3   1.3


                 REGION(7)

  Northeast...........................       837    680    633    646    717    695    705    3.4   2.7   2.5   2.6   2.9   2.8   2.8
  South...............................     1,626  1,513  1,412  1,466  1,535  1,471  1,600    3.4   3.2   3.0   3.1   3.2   3.1   3.4
  Midwest.............................     1,025    878    920    901    862    941    941    3.5   3.0   3.1   3.0   2.9   3.2   3.2
  West................................       979    806    939    862    851    864    844    3.4   2.8   3.3   3.0   3.0   3.0   2.9


  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 and because not all series are shown.
  4 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.
  6 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
  7 See footnote 7, 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              May    Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.   May    May   Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May
                                            2010   2010   2011   2011   2011   2011   2011p  2010  2010  2011  2011  2011  2011  2011p

Total.................................     3,929  3,836  3,612  3,825  3,805  3,833  4,059    3.0   2.9   2.8   2.9   2.9   2.9   3.1

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)........................  3,603  3,539  3,337  3,538  3,534  3,528  3,761    3.4   3.3   3.1   3.3   3.3   3.2   3.5
  Construction...........................    338    393    281    324    334    357    348    6.1   7.2   5.1   5.9   6.0   6.5   6.3
  Manufacturing..........................    235    252    184    234    245    241    268    2.0   2.2   1.6   2.0   2.1   2.1   2.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities(5)    755    718    769    800    772    725    800    3.1   2.9   3.1   3.2   3.1   2.9   3.2
   Retail trade..........................    531    470    527    549    541    511    563    3.7   3.3   3.6   3.8   3.7   3.5   3.9
  Professional and business services.....    745    735    756    760    719    785    853    4.5   4.3   4.5   4.5   4.2   4.6   5.0
  Education and health services..........    429    450    394    441    429    428    446    2.2   2.3   2.0   2.2   2.2   2.1   2.2
  Leisure and hospitality................    656    583    596    582    650    621    645    5.0   4.5   4.6   4.4   4.9   4.7   4.9
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation...    112     98     92     86    122    109    128    5.9   5.2   4.9   4.6   6.4   5.7   6.7
   Accommodation and food services.......    544    485    505    495    528    512    518    4.9   4.3   4.5   4.4   4.7   4.5   4.6
 Government(6).........................      326    297    275    287    271    304    298    1.4   1.3   1.2   1.3   1.2   1.4   1.3
  State and local government.............    259    269    245    255    247    278    269    1.3   1.4   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.4   1.4


                 REGION(7)

  Northeast...........................       708    598    569    703    649    763    744    2.8   2.4   2.3   2.8   2.6   3.1   3.0
  South...............................     1,462  1,476  1,499  1,451  1,519  1,402  1,472    3.1   3.1   3.2   3.1   3.2   3.0   3.1
  Midwest.............................       931    841    912    830    912    947    916    3.2   2.8   3.1   2.8   3.1   3.2   3.1
  West................................       908    759    817    857    872    898    972    3.2   2.7   2.9   3.0   3.0   3.1   3.4


  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 and because not all series are shown.
  4 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.
  6 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
  7 See footnote 7, 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              May    Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.   May    May   Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May
                                            2010   2010   2011   2011   2011   2011   2011p  2010  2010  2011  2011  2011  2011  2011p

Total.................................     1,816  1,838  1,679  1,910  1,924  1,887  1,997    1.4   1.4   1.3   1.5   1.5   1.4   1.5

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)........................  1,712  1,731  1,572  1,793  1,820  1,771  1,875    1.6   1.6   1.5   1.7   1.7   1.6   1.7
  Construction...........................     63     81     56     62     72     91     88    1.1   1.5   1.0   1.1   1.3   1.7   1.6
  Manufacturing..........................     90    107     83     94    115    105    106     .8    .9    .7    .8   1.0    .9    .9
  Trade, transportation, and utilities(5)    413    373    338    442    443    410    472    1.7   1.5   1.4   1.8   1.8   1.6   1.9
   Retail trade..........................    313    274    240    317    342    315    365    2.2   1.9   1.7   2.2   2.4   2.2   2.5
  Professional and business services.....    307    335    361    396    357    360    375    1.8   2.0   2.1   2.3   2.1   2.1   2.2
  Education and health services..........    238    244    206    241    251    239    250    1.2   1.2   1.0   1.2   1.3   1.2   1.3
  Leisure and hospitality................    391    368    352    353    382    386    377    3.0   2.8   2.7   2.7   2.9   2.9   2.9
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation...     37     41     28     37     46     42     41    1.9   2.2   1.5   1.9   2.4   2.2   2.2
   Accommodation and food services.......    355    327    324    317    337    344    336    3.2   2.9   2.9   2.8   3.0   3.0   3.0
 Government(6).........................      105    107    107    117    104    117    122     .5    .5    .5    .5    .5    .5    .6
  State and local government.............     91     98    100    108     97    108    114     .5    .5    .5    .6    .5    .6    .6


                 REGION(7)

  Northeast...........................       306    251    214    335    293    266    330    1.2   1.0    .9   1.3   1.2   1.1   1.3
  South...............................       730    761    656    779    779    741    813    1.5   1.6   1.4   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.7
  Midwest.............................       450    411    368    455    437    456    489    1.5   1.4   1.2   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.6
  West................................       433    343    366    447    455    400    458    1.5   1.2   1.3   1.6   1.6   1.4   1.6


  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 and because not all series are shown.
  4 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.
  6 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
  7 See footnote 7, 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                  May      Apr.     May           May      Apr.     May
                                                   2010     2011     2011p         2010     2011     2011p

Total...........................................  2,840    3,221    3,039           2.1      2.4      2.3

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,472    2,884    2,722           2.3      2.6      2.4
  Mining and Logging............................     17       23       20           2.4      3.0      2.5
  Construction..................................     86      116      104           1.5      2.1      1.8
  Manufacturing.................................    198      234      237           1.7      2.0      2.0
   Durable goods................................    130      162      165           1.8      2.2      2.2
   Nondurable goods.............................     68       72       72           1.5      1.6      1.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    413      550      484           1.7      2.2      1.9
   Wholesale trade..............................    104      100       93           1.9      1.8      1.7
   Retail trade.................................    251      333      279           1.7      2.3      1.9
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     58      117      111           1.2      2.4      2.3
  Information...................................     77      107      106           2.7      3.8      3.8
  Financial activities..........................    198      238      176           2.5      3.0      2.3
   Finance and insurance........................    162      178      124           2.8      3.1      2.1
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     36       60       52           1.8      3.0      2.6
  Professional and business services............    569      538      579           3.3      3.0      3.3
  Education and health services.................    505      587      590           2.5      2.8      2.9
   Educational services.........................     71       66       57           2.2      1.9      1.7
   Health care and social assistance............    435      521      533           2.6      3.0      3.1
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    294      380      317           2.2      2.8      2.3
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     51       46       47           2.5      2.4      2.3
   Accommodation and food services.............     243      334      271           2.1      2.9      2.3
  Other services................................    115      112      109           2.1      2.0      1.9

 Government.....................................    368      336      318           1.5      1.5      1.4
  Federal.......................................    127       61       45           3.6      2.1      1.6
  State and local...............................    241      275      273           1.2      1.4      1.4

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    602      581      570           2.4      2.3      2.2
  South.........................................  1,022    1,070    1,025           2.1      2.2      2.1
  Midwest.......................................    528      763      727           1.7      2.5      2.4
  West..........................................    689      807      716           2.3      2.7      2.4


  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 7, 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                  May      Apr.     May           May      Apr.     May
                                                   2010     2011     2011p         2010     2011     2011p

Total...........................................  4,746    4,319    4,531           3.6      3.3      3.4

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,998    4,126    4,250           3.7      3.8      3.9
  Mining and Logging............................     34       32       30           4.9      4.3      3.9
  Construction..................................    383      500      430           6.9      9.3      7.7
  Manufacturing.................................    290      266      296           2.5      2.3      2.5
   Durable goods................................    167      150      174           2.4      2.1      2.4
   Nondurable goods.............................    123      116      122           2.8      2.6      2.8
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    812      822      859           3.3      3.3      3.5
   Wholesale trade..............................    124      120      145           2.3      2.2      2.6
   Retail trade.................................    558      581      594           3.9      4.0      4.1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    130      121      120           2.8      2.5      2.5
  Information...................................     47       67       60           1.7      2.5      2.2
  Financial activities..........................    184      121      158           2.4      1.6      2.1
   Finance and insurance........................    108       71      106           1.9      1.3      1.9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     77       50       52           3.9      2.6      2.7
  Professional and business services............    802      933      933           4.8      5.5      5.4
  Education and health services.................    437      436      460           2.2      2.2      2.3
   Educational services.........................     44       49       45           1.4      1.4      1.4
   Health care and social assistance............    393      387      415           2.4      2.3      2.5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    799      772      815           6.0      5.9      6.1
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    152      139      179           7.7      7.5      9.1
   Accommodation and food services.............     647      633      636           5.8      5.6      5.5
  Other services................................    209      177      208           3.9      3.2      3.8

 Government.....................................    748      194      281           3.2       .9      1.2
  Federal.......................................    501       26       36          14.7       .9      1.3
  State and local...............................    247      167      245           1.2       .8      1.2

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    875      760      783           3.5      3.0      3.1
  South.........................................  1,654    1,571    1,686           3.5      3.3      3.5
  Midwest.......................................  1,163    1,064    1,123           3.9      3.6      3.8
  West..........................................  1,054      925      940           3.7      3.2      3.2


  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 7, 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                  May      Apr.     May           May      Apr.     May
                                                   2010     2011     2011p         2010     2011     2011p

Total...........................................  3,634    3,603    3,856           2.8      2.7      2.9

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,283    3,397    3,519           3.1      3.1      3.2
  Mining and Logging............................     16       19       18           2.3      2.5      2.3
  Construction..................................    286      343      295           5.1      6.4      5.3
  Manufacturing.................................    203      234      243           1.8      2.0      2.1
   Durable goods................................    111      122      132           1.6      1.7      1.8
   Nondurable goods.............................     92      112      111           2.1      2.5      2.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    707      654      764           2.9      2.6      3.1
   Wholesale trade..............................    105       88      131           1.9      1.6      2.4
   Retail trade.................................    501      469      543           3.5      3.3      3.8
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    101       97       90           2.1      2.0      1.9
  Information...................................     45       57       60           1.7      2.1      2.2
  Financial activities..........................    169      124      124           2.2      1.6      1.6
   Finance and insurance........................    105       83       91           1.8      1.5      1.6
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     64       42       33           3.3      2.2      1.7
  Professional and business services............    662      825      789           4.0      4.8      4.6
  Education and health services.................    411      389      434           2.1      1.9      2.2
   Educational services.........................     71       48       69           2.2      1.4      2.1
   Health care and social assistance............    340      340      365           2.1      2.0      2.2
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    619      575      623           4.7      4.4      4.6
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     89       97      111           4.5      5.2      5.6
   Accommodation and food services.............     530      478      512           4.7      4.2      4.5
  Other services................................    166      176      170           3.1      3.2      3.1

 Government.....................................    351      206      337           1.5       .9      1.5
  Federal.......................................     63       24       26           1.8       .8       .9
  State and local...............................    288      182      311           1.4       .9      1.6

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    580      647      630           2.3      2.6      2.5
  South.........................................  1,407    1,353    1,448           3.0      2.9      3.0
  Midwest.......................................    824      798      836           2.8      2.7      2.8
  West..........................................    823      806      941           2.9      2.8      3.2


  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 7, 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                  May      Apr.     May           May      Apr.     May
                                                   2010     2011     2011p         2010     2011     2011p

Total...........................................  1,809    1,885    2,051           1.4      1.4      1.6

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,693    1,795    1,906           1.6      1.7      1.7
  Mining and Logging............................      6       10       10            .8      1.4      1.3
  Construction..................................     61       93       89           1.1      1.7      1.6
  Manufacturing.................................     88      105      105            .8       .9       .9
   Durable goods................................     39       56       57            .6       .8       .8
   Nondurable goods.............................     48       49       48           1.1      1.1      1.1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    418      408      491           1.7      1.7      2.0
   Wholesale trade..............................     47       42       52            .9       .8       .9
   Retail trade.................................    327      314      389           2.3      2.2      2.7
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     44       51       50            .9      1.1      1.0
  Information...................................     20       32       36            .7      1.2      1.3
  Financial activities..........................     83       76       74           1.1      1.0      1.0
   Finance and insurance........................     53       57       55            .9      1.0      1.0
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     29       19       19           1.5      1.0      1.0
  Professional and business services............    298      360      366           1.8      2.1      2.1
  Education and health services.................    229      238      247           1.2      1.2      1.2
   Educational services.........................     28       27       29            .9       .8       .9
   Health care and social assistance............    201      211      218           1.2      1.3      1.3
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    393      393      391           3.0      3.0      2.9
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     36       41       41           1.8      2.2      2.1
   Accommodation and food services.............     357      353      350           3.2      3.1      3.1
  Other services................................     98       79       96           1.8      1.5      1.8

 Government.....................................    116       90      146            .5       .4       .6
  Federal.......................................     14        7        8            .4       .2       .3
  State and local...............................    102       83      137            .5       .4       .7

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    254      265      292           1.0      1.1      1.2
  South.........................................    721      782      828           1.5      1.6      1.7
  Midwest.......................................    413      432      467           1.4      1.4      1.6
  West..........................................    421      406      465           1.5      1.4      1.6


  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 7, 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                  May      Apr.     May           May      Apr.     May
                                                   2010     2011     2011p         2010     2011     2011p

Total...........................................  1,523    1,413    1,503           1.2      1.1      1.1

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,356    1,344    1,380           1.3      1.2      1.3
  Mining and Logging............................      9        8        6           1.3      1.0       .8
  Construction..................................    216      235      201           3.9      4.4      3.6
  Manufacturing.................................     95      107      115            .8       .9      1.0
   Durable goods................................     59       53       61            .8       .7       .8
   Nondurable goods.............................     36       54       55            .8      1.2      1.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    221      187      196            .9       .8       .8
   Wholesale trade..............................     55       32       69           1.0       .6      1.3
   Retail trade.................................    125      126      104            .9       .9       .7
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     41       29       23            .9       .6       .5
  Information...................................     23       21       21            .8       .8       .8
  Financial activities..........................     66       28       32            .9       .4       .4
   Finance and insurance........................     40       11       23            .7       .2       .4
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     26       17        8           1.3       .9       .4
  Professional and business services............    310      401      378           1.9      2.3      2.2
  Education and health services.................    157      105      151            .8       .5       .8
   Educational services.........................     40       16       32           1.2       .5      1.0
   Health care and social assistance............    118       88      119            .7       .5       .7
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    199      161      212           1.5      1.2      1.6
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     49       54       67           2.5      2.9      3.4
   Accommodation and food services.............     150      107      145           1.3       .9      1.3
  Other services................................     60       92       68           1.1      1.7      1.2

 Government.....................................    167       69      123            .7       .3       .5
  Federal.......................................     39        9        8           1.1       .3       .3
  State and local...............................    128       61      115            .6       .3       .6

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    283      329      287           1.1      1.3      1.1
  South.........................................    564      466      527           1.2      1.0      1.1
  Midwest.......................................    342      307      296           1.2      1.0      1.0
  West..........................................    335      311      393           1.2      1.1      1.4


  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 7, 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                  May      Apr.     May           May      Apr.     May
                                                   2010     2011     2011p         2010     2011     2011p

Total...........................................    303      305      302           0.2      0.2      0.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    235      258      234            .2       .2       .2
  Mining and Logging............................      2        1        2            .2       .1       .2
  Construction..................................      9       16        5            .2       .3       .1
  Manufacturing.................................     19       22       22            .2       .2       .2
   Durable goods................................     12       13       14            .2       .2       .2
   Nondurable goods.............................      7        9        8            .2       .2       .2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     68       58       77            .3       .2       .3
   Wholesale trade..............................      2       13       10           (4)       .2       .2
   Retail trade.................................     50       28       50            .3       .2       .3
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     16       17       16            .3       .3       .3
  Information...................................      3        5        4            .1       .2       .1
  Financial activities..........................     20       21       18            .3       .3       .2
   Finance and insurance........................     12       14       13            .2       .3       .2
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      9        6        5            .5       .3       .3
  Professional and business services............     54       64       45            .3       .4       .3
  Education and health services.................     25       46       36            .1       .2       .2
   Educational services.........................      3        5        8            .1       .1       .3
   Health care and social assistance............     22       41       28            .1       .2       .2
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     27       21       20            .2       .2       .2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      4        2        3            .2       .1       .2
   Accommodation and food services.............      23       19       17            .2       .2       .1
  Other services................................      8        5        6            .1       .1       .1

 Government.....................................     68       47       68            .3       .2       .3
  Federal.......................................     10        8       10            .3       .3       .4
  State and local...............................     57       38       58            .3       .2       .3

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................     43       52       51            .2       .2       .2
  South.........................................    123      105       93            .3       .2       .2
  Midwest.......................................     70       59       74            .2       .2       .2
  West..........................................     66       89       84            .2       .3       .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 7, table 1.
  4 Data round to zero. 
  p = Preliminary


Last Modified Date: July 12, 2011