Technical information: (202) 691-5870 USDL 05-2144 http://www.bls.gov/jlt/ For release: 10:00 A.M. EST Media contact: 691-5902 Tuesday, November 8, 2005 JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: SEPTEMBER 2005 The job openings rate increased in September while the hires and total separations rates were unchanged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region. Job Openings On the last business day of September 2005, there were 3.7 million job openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.7 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate rose in September, continuing the generally upward trend that began in September 2003. Over the month, the job openings rate increased in government and in the South region. Hires and Separations The hires rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent in September. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. Over the month, the hires rate did not change significantly in any industry or region. The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent in September. (See table 3.) Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In September, the total separa- tions rate increased in the professional and business services industry and in government. The total separations rates in the four geographic regions did not change significantly from August. Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and discharges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including retirements). The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers' ability to change jobs, was essentially unchanged at 2.0 percent in September. (See table 4.) The quits rate increased in manufacturing and in professional and business services, but did not change signifi- cantly in any geographic region. ------------------------------------------------------------------- | Hurricanes Katrina and Rita | | | | Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck Florida and the Gulf | | Coast, potentially affecting estimates for August and September. | | While JOLTS does not produce data at the detailed local level, | | some effect of the storms may be reflected in the JOLTS estimates.| ------------------------------------------------------------------- - 2 - Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Job openings | Hires | Total separations |--------------------|--------------------|-------------------- Industry | Sept.| Aug. | Sept.| Sept.| Aug. | Sept.| Sept.| Aug. | Sept. | 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p -------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------- | Levels (in thousands) |-------------------------------------------------------------- Total(1)...........|3,265 |3,487 |3,677 |4,406 |4,601 |4,589 |4,214 |4,499 |4,610 Total private(1).|2,905 |3,130 |3,251 |3,957 |4,276 |4,231 |3,918 |4,235 |4,318 Construction...| 105 | 136 | 151 | 363 | 435 | 435 | 377 | 452 | 425 Manufacturing..| 245 | 266 | 276 | 361 | 344 | 341 | 368 | 369 | 404 Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | | portation, and| | | | | | | | | utilities.....| 609 | 620 | 609 | 908 | 998 | 971 | 909 |1,019 | 988 Professional | | | | | | | | | and business | | | | | | | | | services......| 583 | 590 | 667 | 761 | 786 | 843 | 686 | 670 | 802 Education and | | | | | | | | | health ser- | | | | | | | | | vices.........| 529 | 604 | 620 | 416 | 465 | 457 | 380 | 406 | 452 Leisure and | | | | | | | | | hospitality...| 419 | 427 | 457 | 772 | 771 | 785 | 732 | 785 | 821 Government.......| 360 | 370 | 426 | 375 | 337 | 339 | 305 | 271 | 298 |-------------------------------------------------------------- | Rates (percent) |-------------------------------------------------------------- Total(1)...........| 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.4 Total private(1).| 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.8 Construction...| 1.5 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 5.2 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.4 | 6.2 | 5.8 Manufacturing..| 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.8 Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | | portation, and| | | | | | | | | utilities.....| 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 3.8 Professional | | | | | | | | | and business | | | | | | | | | services......| 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.7 Education and | | | | | | | | | health ser- | | | | | | | | | vices.........| 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.6 Leisure and | | | | | | | | | hospitality...| 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 6.4 Government.......| 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.4 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. p = preliminary. The other two components of total separations--layoffs and discharges, and other separations--are not seasonally adjusted. From September 2004 to September 2005, the layoffs and discharges rate was unchanged at 1.3 percent, but the other separations rate decreased to 0.2 percent. (See tables 9 an 10.) Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.7 million per month and separations have averaged 4.4 million per month (not seasonally adjusted). The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.4 million hires and 4.2 million separations. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.) - 3 - For More Information For additional information, please read the Technical Note or visit the JOLTS Web site at http://www.bls.gov/jlt/. Additional information about JOLTS also may be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling (202) 691-5870. ______________________________ The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for October 2005 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, December 13, 2005. - 4 - Technical Note The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) are collected and compiled monthly from a sample of business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Collection Each month, data are collected in a survey of business establishments for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, fax, and mail. Coverage The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local government entities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Concepts Industry classification. The industry classifications in this release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Employment Security Agencies verify with employers and update, if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership clas- sification 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 re- ceived 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 tempo- rary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establish- ment 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 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 news- papers 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. - 5 - Hires. Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occurring at any time during the reference month, including both new and rehired em- ployees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term and seasonal em- ployees, 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 (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 separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100. The quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations rates are computed similarly, divid- ing the number by employment and multiplying by 100. Sample methodology The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000 nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local governments in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program includes all employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE). The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, industry sector, and size class. Large firms fall into the sample with virtual certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates are controlled to the employment estimates of the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey. A ratio of CES to JOLTS employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels. - 6 - 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 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 supple- mental 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 reorgan- ization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these intergovern- mental transfers would distort the federal government time series. Seasonal adjustment BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in the level of the series, particularly those associated with general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent seasonal adjust- ment methodology is used in which new seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using all relevant data, up to and including the data for the current month. Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than is customary. The historical data, therefore, may be subject to larger than normal revisions. Since the seasonal patterns in economic data series typically emerge over time, the standard use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these effects requires longer series than are currently available. As a result, the stable seasonal filter option is used in the seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS data. When calculating seasonal factors, this filter takes an average for each cal- endar month after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal filter is no longer needed, other program features also may be introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended diagnostic testing. Additionally, it is expected that more series, such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may be seasonally adjusted when more data are available. - 7 - 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 ex- plain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment. Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations, especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period for payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the month, while the reference period for hires and separations is the calendar month; and 2) payroll employment can vary from month to month simply because part- time and on-call workers may not always work during the pay period that in- cludes the 12th of the month. Additionally, research has found that some reporters systematically underreport separations relative to hires due to a number of factors, including the nature of their payroll systems and prac- tices. 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 Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p Total(4)............................... 3,265 3,576 3,416 3,647 3,588 3,487 3,677 2.4 2.6 2.5 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.7 INDUSTRY Total private(4)...................... 2,905 3,178 3,050 3,239 3,204 3,130 3,251 2.6 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.8 Construction......................... 105 113 107 104 128 136 151 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.7 1.8 2.0 Manufacturing........................ 245 259 240 269 287 266 276 1.7 1.8 1.6 1.8 2.0 1.8 1.9 Trade, transportation, and utilities. 609 627 597 624 600 620 609 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.3 Professional and business services... 583 691 659 686 666 590 667 3.4 3.9 3.8 3.9 3.8 3.4 3.8 Education and health services........ 529 608 611 609 607 604 620 3.0 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.4 Leisure and hospitality.............. 419 457 440 517 439 427 457 3.2 3.5 3.3 3.9 3.3 3.2 3.5 Government............................ 360 396 378 394 388 370 426 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.9 REGION Northeast............................ 564 602 563 634 610 609 628 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.4 South................................ 1,239 1,414 1,303 1,333 1,343 1,353 1,458 2.6 2.9 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.8 3.0 Midwest.............................. 699 742 786 781 764 704 742 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.3 West................................. 797 818 799 869 832 841 869 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.9 2.8 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 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. p = preliminary. NOTE: 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. Table 2. Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels(3) (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p Total(4)............................... 4,406 4,538 4,740 4,694 4,649 4,601 4,589 3.3 3.4 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.4 INDUSTRY Total private(4)...................... 3,957 4,212 4,398 4,365 4,342 4,276 4,231 3.6 3.8 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.8 3.8 Construction......................... 363 412 420 393 381 435 435 5.2 5.7 5.8 5.4 5.3 6.0 6.0 Manufacturing........................ 361 319 342 347 345 344 341 2.5 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 Trade, transportation, and utilities. 908 1,042 1,030 1,045 990 998 971 3.6 4.0 4.0 4.0 3.8 3.8 3.8 Professional and business services... 761 792 887 835 832 786 843 4.6 4.7 5.3 4.9 4.9 4.6 4.9 Education and health services........ 416 487 466 457 453 465 457 2.4 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.6 Leisure and hospitality.............. 772 742 750 877 834 771 785 6.2 5.8 5.9 6.9 6.5 6.0 6.2 Government............................ 375 329 339 337 330 337 339 1.7 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.6 REGION Northeast............................ 794 825 764 794 772 738 776 3.1 3.3 3.0 3.1 3.0 2.9 3.0 South................................ 1,754 1,701 1,816 1,786 1,689 1,750 1,777 3.8 3.6 3.8 3.8 3.6 3.7 3.7 Midwest.............................. 889 1,020 1,129 1,054 1,045 970 924 2.8 3.3 3.6 3.4 3.3 3.1 2.9 West................................. 963 1,037 1,048 1,070 1,081 1,144 1,125 3.3 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.9 3.8 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. p = preliminary. NOTE: See NOTE, table 1. Table 3. Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels(3) (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p Total(4)............................... 4,214 4,562 4,504 4,477 4,270 4,499 4,610 3.2 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.2 3.4 3.4 INDUSTRY Total private(4)...................... 3,918 4,306 4,256 4,223 4,007 4,235 4,318 3.6 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.6 3.8 3.8 Construction......................... 377 421 408 380 370 452 425 5.4 5.8 5.6 5.3 5.1 6.2 5.8 Manufacturing........................ 368 369 369 350 361 369 404 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.8 Trade, transportation, and utilities. 909 1,018 989 980 948 1,019 988 3.6 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.7 3.9 3.8 Professional and business services... 686 869 851 818 747 670 802 4.2 5.2 5.1 4.8 4.4 3.9 4.7 Education and health services........ 380 433 405 401 391 406 452 2.2 2.5 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.6 Leisure and hospitality.............. 732 709 750 803 750 785 821 5.8 5.6 5.9 6.3 5.9 6.1 6.4 Government............................ 305 256 254 254 257 271 298 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.4 REGION Northeast............................ 725 807 714 761 715 734 748 2.9 3.2 2.8 3.0 2.8 2.9 2.9 South................................ 1,604 1,766 1,743 1,653 1,567 1,639 1,744 3.4 3.7 3.7 3.5 3.3 3.4 3.7 Midwest.............................. 922 982 976 946 1,011 1,047 1,051 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.2 3.3 3.3 West................................. 982 1,006 1,034 1,062 1,001 1,094 1,071 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.4 3.7 3.6 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month. 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. p = preliminary. NOTE: See NOTE, table 1. Table 4. Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels(3) (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p Total(4)............................... 2,291 2,520 2,514 2,475 2,474 2,605 2,686 1.7 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.9 2.0 INDUSTRY Total private(4)...................... 2,166 2,395 2,391 2,348 2,351 2,467 2,537 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 Construction......................... 159 146 168 139 140 222 207 2.3 2.0 2.3 1.9 1.9 3.1 2.8 Manufacturing........................ 181 178 183 190 189 184 211 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.5 Trade, transportation, and utilities. 529 577 589 588 577 604 568 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.2 Professional and business services... 358 417 420 386 353 374 447 2.2 2.5 2.5 2.3 2.1 2.2 2.6 Education and health services........ 235 272 249 256 271 260 281 1.4 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.6 Leisure and hospitality.............. 451 506 488 510 525 517 557 3.6 4.0 3.8 4.0 4.1 4.0 4.4 Government............................ 127 125 123 124 125 139 153 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .7 REGION Northeast............................ 317 446 373 350 381 380 372 1.3 1.8 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 South................................ 950 992 1,020 960 964 1,054 1,102 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.2 2.3 Midwest.............................. 492 540 554 542 548 570 600 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.9 West................................. 541 573 562 653 577 585 617 1.9 2.0 1.9 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.1 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. p = preliminary. NOTE: See NOTE, table 1. Table 5. Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept. 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p Total........................................... 3,408 3,749 3,848 2.5 2.7 2.8 INDUSTRY Total private.................................. 3,061 3,348 3,437 2.7 2.9 3.0 Natural resources and mining.................. 10 10 13 1.6 1.5 2.0 Construction.................................. 101 148 153 1.4 1.9 2.0 Manufacturing................................. 256 285 287 1.7 1.9 2.0 Durable goods................................ 158 189 187 1.7 2.1 2.1 Nondurable goods............................. 98 96 99 1.8 1.8 1.8 Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 690 686 683 2.6 2.6 2.6 Wholesale trade.............................. 120 130 113 2.1 2.2 1.9 Retail trade................................. 490 428 441 3.2 2.7 2.8 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 80 127 128 1.6 2.5 2.5 Information................................... 71 98 105 2.2 3.0 3.2 Financial activities.......................... 236 236 247 2.8 2.8 2.9 Finance and insurance........................ 193 198 200 3.1 3.1 3.2 Real estate and rental and leasing........... 43 38 47 2.0 1.7 2.1 Professional and business services............ 609 629 704 3.5 3.5 3.9 Education and health services................. 542 639 633 3.1 3.6 3.5 Educational services......................... 47 65 65 1.7 2.5 2.3 Health care and social assistance............ 495 574 569 3.4 3.8 3.8 Leisure and hospitality....................... 411 475 451 3.1 3.4 3.4 Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 57 63 38 2.9 2.9 2.0 Accommodations and food services............. 354 412 412 3.2 3.5 3.6 Other services................................ 135 144 162 2.4 2.5 2.9 Government..................................... 347 401 410 1.6 1.9 1.9 Federal....................................... 46 43 46 1.6 1.5 1.7 State and local............................... 302 358 364 1.6 2.0 1.9 REGION Northeast..................................... 590 676 665 2.3 2.6 2.5 South......................................... 1,266 1,399 1,511 2.6 2.9 3.1 Midwest....................................... 739 779 782 2.3 2.4 2.4 West.......................................... 813 895 890 2.7 3.0 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. p = preliminary. NOTE: See NOTE, table 1. Table 6. Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept. 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p Total........................................... 4,918 5,296 5,114 3.7 4.0 3.8 INDUSTRY Total private.................................. 4,329 4,778 4,581 3.9 4.2 4.1 Natural resources and mining.................. 21 19 17 3.4 3.0 2.6 Construction.................................. 373 447 454 5.2 5.9 6.0 Manufacturing................................. 388 394 363 2.7 2.7 2.5 Durable goods................................ 241 216 219 2.7 2.4 2.4 Nondurable goods............................. 146 178 144 2.7 3.3 2.7 Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 1,029 1,101 1,087 4.0 4.2 4.2 Wholesale trade.............................. 151 159 147 2.7 2.8 2.6 Retail trade................................. 650 772 751 4.3 5.1 5.0 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 229 169 189 4.7 3.4 3.8 Information................................... 65 84 81 2.1 2.6 2.6 Financial activities.......................... 200 186 176 2.5 2.2 2.1 Finance and insurance........................ 118 117 117 2.0 1.9 1.9 Real estate and rental and leasing........... 82 69 59 3.9 3.1 2.7 Professional and business services............ 763 862 851 4.6 5.0 5.0 Education and health services................. 537 580 586 3.2 3.4 3.4 Educational services......................... 116 92 121 4.3 3.7 4.3 Health care and social assistance............ 421 488 465 3.0 3.4 3.2 Leisure and hospitality....................... 766 875 783 6.0 6.5 6.0 Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 130 104 76 6.8 4.9 4.0 Accommodations and food services............. 636 771 708 5.9 6.8 6.4 Other services................................ 187 229 182 3.5 4.2 3.3 Government..................................... 589 517 533 2.7 2.5 2.5 Federal....................................... 44 44 57 1.6 1.6 2.1 State and local............................... 545 473 476 2.9 2.6 2.5 REGION Northeast..................................... 1,018 779 996 4.0 3.1 3.9 South......................................... 1,786 2,041 1,807 3.8 4.3 3.8 Midwest....................................... 1,050 1,186 1,066 3.4 3.8 3.4 West.......................................... 1,063 1,289 1,245 3.7 4.4 4.2 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. p = preliminary. NOTE: See NOTE, table 1. Table 7. Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept. 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p Total........................................... 4,725 5,731 5,186 3.6 4.3 3.9 INDUSTRY Total private.................................. 4,354 5,312 4,810 3.9 4.7 4.3 Natural resources and mining.................. 20 22 16 3.2 3.4 2.4 Construction.................................. 403 545 461 5.6 7.2 6.1 Manufacturing................................. 372 448 414 2.6 3.1 2.9 Durable goods................................ 239 288 253 2.7 3.2 2.8 Nondurable goods............................. 133 160 160 2.4 3.0 3.0 Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 964 1,201 1,046 3.8 4.6 4.1 Wholesale trade.............................. 140 152 124 2.5 2.6 2.2 Retail trade................................. 681 853 741 4.6 5.6 4.9 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 144 196 180 2.9 4.0 3.6 Information................................... 75 90 99 2.4 2.9 3.2 Financial activities.......................... 232 234 170 2.9 2.8 2.1 Finance and insurance........................ 138 166 108 2.3 2.7 1.8 Real estate and rental and leasing........... 94 68 62 4.4 3.1 2.8 Professional and business services............ 691 844 812 4.2 4.9 4.7 Education and health services................. 409 528 483 2.4 3.1 2.8 Educational services......................... 70 77 89 2.6 3.1 3.2 Health care and social assistance............ 339 451 394 2.4 3.1 2.7 Leisure and hospitality....................... 970 1,008 1,107 7.6 7.5 8.5 Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 246 175 230 12.9 8.3 12.0 Accommodations and food services............. 724 833 877 6.7 7.4 7.9 Other services................................ 219 392 204 4.0 7.1 3.7 Government..................................... 371 419 376 1.7 2.0 1.7 Federal....................................... 32 44 49 1.2 1.6 1.8 State and local............................... 339 375 327 1.8 2.1 1.7 REGION Northeast..................................... 896 954 925 3.5 3.8 3.6 South......................................... 1,662 2,116 1,832 3.6 4.4 3.8 Midwest....................................... 1,066 1,379 1,228 3.4 4.4 3.9 West.......................................... 1,101 1,281 1,202 3.8 4.4 4.1 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. p = preliminary. NOTE: See NOTE, table 1. Table 8. Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept. 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p Total........................................... 2,636 3,558 3,118 2.0 2.7 2.3 INDUSTRY Total private.................................. 2,497 3,328 2,950 2.3 2.9 2.6 Natural resources and mining.................. 12 12 9 2.0 1.8 1.4 Construction.................................. 177 266 233 2.4 3.5 3.1 Manufacturing................................. 204 255 243 1.4 1.8 1.7 Durable goods................................ 127 148 155 1.4 1.6 1.7 Nondurable goods............................. 77 108 88 1.4 2.0 1.6 Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 613 812 649 2.4 3.1 2.5 Wholesale trade.............................. 85 97 75 1.5 1.7 1.3 Retail trade................................. 461 598 484 3.1 3.9 3.2 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 66 116 90 1.4 2.4 1.8 Information................................... 40 62 69 1.3 2.0 2.2 Financial activities.......................... 123 166 91 1.5 2.0 1.1 Finance and insurance........................ 69 113 74 1.2 1.9 1.2 Real estate and rental and leasing........... 54 53 17 2.5 2.4 .8 Professional and business services............ 374 501 460 2.3 2.9 2.7 Education and health services................. 262 344 318 1.6 2.0 1.8 Educational services......................... 37 46 49 1.4 1.8 1.8 Health care and social assistance............ 226 298 268 1.6 2.0 1.8 Leisure and hospitality....................... 571 710 751 4.5 5.3 5.8 Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 62 64 66 3.3 3.0 3.5 Accommodations and food services............. 508 646 684 4.7 5.7 6.2 Other services................................ 120 200 127 2.2 3.6 2.3 Government..................................... 139 230 169 .6 1.1 .8 Federal....................................... 10 21 20 .4 .8 .7 State and local............................... 129 208 149 .7 1.2 .8 REGION Northeast..................................... 413 536 484 1.6 2.1 1.9 South......................................... 1,034 1,402 1,213 2.2 2.9 2.5 Midwest....................................... 571 822 710 1.8 2.6 2.3 West.......................................... 617 798 711 2.1 2.7 2.4 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. p = preliminary. NOTE: See NOTE, table 1. Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept. 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p Total........................................... 1,742 1,819 1,770 1.3 1.4 1.3 INDUSTRY Total private.................................. 1,559 1,685 1,619 1.4 1.5 1.4 Natural resources and mining.................. 4 9 5 .7 1.3 .8 Construction.................................. 194 253 212 2.7 3.3 2.8 Manufacturing................................. 140 162 143 1.0 1.1 1.0 Durable goods................................ 90 118 81 1.0 1.3 .9 Nondurable goods............................. 49 44 62 .9 .8 1.2 Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 296 326 337 1.2 1.3 1.3 Wholesale trade.............................. 47 43 27 .8 .7 .5 Retail trade................................. 187 219 232 1.2 1.4 1.5 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 63 64 78 1.3 1.3 1.6 Information................................... 23 21 21 .8 .7 .7 Financial activities.......................... 75 53 67 .9 .6 .8 Finance and insurance........................ 37 43 24 .6 .7 .4 Real estate and rental and leasing........... 38 10 43 1.8 .5 2.0 Professional and business services............ 276 280 302 1.7 1.6 1.8 Education and health services................. 116 149 130 .7 .9 .7 Educational services......................... 30 26 37 1.1 1.0 1.3 Health care and social assistance............ 86 123 93 .6 .8 .6 Leisure and hospitality....................... 356 254 336 2.8 1.9 2.6 Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 177 108 158 9.3 5.1 8.3 Accommodations and food services............. 179 146 178 1.7 1.3 1.6 Other services................................ 79 179 65 1.5 3.2 1.2 Government..................................... 183 134 151 .9 .7 .7 Federal....................................... 10 11 13 .4 .4 .5 State and local............................... 174 123 138 .9 .7 .7 REGION Northeast..................................... 403 347 400 1.6 1.4 1.6 South......................................... 504 584 526 1.1 1.2 1.1 Midwest....................................... 416 496 440 1.3 1.6 1.4 West.......................................... 419 393 404 1.5 1.3 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. p = preliminary. NOTE: See NOTE, table 1. Table 10. Other separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept. 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p Total........................................... 347 354 298 0.3 0.3 0.2 INDUSTRY Total private.................................. 298 299 241 .3 .3 .2 Natural resources and mining.................. 3 1 1 .5 .2 .2 Construction.................................. 32 26 15 .4 .3 .2 Manufacturing................................. 28 31 27 .2 .2 .2 Durable goods................................ 22 22 17 .2 .2 .2 Nondurable goods............................. 6 9 10 .1 .2 .2 Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 55 64 60 .2 .2 .2 Wholesale trade.............................. 7 12 23 .1 .2 .4 Retail trade................................. 33 36 26 .2 .2 .2 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 15 16 12 .3 .3 .2 Information................................... 11 7 9 .4 .2 .3 Financial activities.......................... 34 15 12 .4 .2 .1 Finance and insurance........................ 32 9 10 .5 .2 .2 Real estate and rental and leasing........... 2 5 2 .1 .2 .1 Professional and business services............ 40 63 50 .2 .4 .3 Education and health services................. 30 35 36 .2 .2 .2 Educational services......................... 3 6 3 .1 .2 .1 Health care and social assistance............ 27 29 33 .2 .2 .2 Leisure and hospitality....................... 43 45 20 .3 .3 .2 Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 7 3 5 .4 .1 .3 Accommodations and food services............. 37 42 15 .3 .4 .1 Other services................................ 20 12 12 .4 .2 .2 Government..................................... 49 55 57 .2 .3 .3 Federal....................................... 13 12 16 .5 .4 .6 State and local............................... 36 43 40 .2 .2 .2 REGION Northeast..................................... 80 72 41 .3 .3 .2 South......................................... 123 131 93 .3 .3 .2 Midwest....................................... 79 62 78 .3 .2 .2 West.......................................... 64 90 87 .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. p = preliminary. NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.