Economic News Release

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
                                            2007   2007   2008   2008   2008   2008   2008p  2007  2007  2008  2008  2008  2008  2008p

Total(4).................................  2,657  2,494  2,493  2,522  2,375  2,444  2,344    1.9   1.8   1.8   1.8   1.7   1.8   1.7

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)........................  2,503  2,358  2,355  2,384  2,258  2,301  2,209    2.2   2.0   2.0   2.1   2.0   2.0   1.9
  Construction...........................    129    119    113    133    111    127    120    1.7   1.6   1.5   1.8   1.5   1.7   1.6
  Manufacturing..........................    212    182    183    187    157    182    167    1.5   1.3   1.3   1.4   1.2   1.3   1.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities(5)    600    590    598    532    535    550    499    2.3   2.2   2.2   2.0   2.0   2.1   1.9
   Retail trade..........................    444    445    437    374    399    404    356    2.9   2.9   2.8   2.4   2.6   2.6   2.3
  Professional and business services.....    415    367    351    492    386    385    380    2.3   2.0   1.9   2.7   2.1   2.1   2.1
  Education and health services..........    283    258    276    271    279    270    230    1.6   1.4   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.4   1.2
  Leisure and hospitality(6).............    547    561    525    539    529    516    546    4.1   4.1   3.8   3.9   3.9   3.8   4.0
   Accommodation and food services.......    506    513    465    488    494    473    495    4.4   4.4   4.0   4.2   4.2   4.1   4.2
 Government(7)...........................    153    137    138    135    126    144    134     .7    .6    .6    .6    .6    .6    .6
  State and local government.............    129    120    119    116    101    129    116     .7    .6    .6    .6    .5    .7    .6


                 REGION(8)

  Northeast..............................    331    312    358    410    334    368    352    1.3   1.2   1.4   1.6   1.3   1.4   1.4
  South..................................  1,145  1,008  1,045  1,021    996  1,001    948    2.3   2.0   2.1   2.1   2.0   2.0   1.9
  Midwest................................    541    521    502    475    491    500    477    1.7   1.6   1.6   1.5   1.6   1.6   1.5
  West...................................    640    632    583    632    568    575    564    2.1   2.0   1.9   2.0   1.8   1.9   1.8


  1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
  2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.
  6 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately.
  7 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
  8 See footnote 8, table 1.
  p = preliminary.