Three-month private sector gross job gains and losses, seasonally adjusted, December 2007–December 2008 Dec 2007 Mar 2008 Jun 2008 Sep 2008 Dec 2008 Gross job gains Gross job gains, total 7,676,000 7,130,000 7,258,000 6,822,000 6,712,000 At expanding establishments 6,220,000 5,731,000 5,858,000 5,504,000 5,367,000 At opening establishments 1,456,000 1,399,000 1,400,000 1,318,000 1,345,000 Gross job losses Gross job losses, total 7,366,000 7,400,000 7,751,000 7,754,000 8,467,000 At contracting establishments 6,010,000 6,047,000 6,277,000 6,383,000 6,977,000 At closing establishments 1,356,000 1,353,000 1,474,000 1,371,000 1,490,000 Net employment change 310,000 -270,000 -493,000 -932,000 -1,755,000