Hires rate, total nonfarm sector, seasonally adjusted, January 2004-December 2004 Rate (percent) Jan-04 3.2 Feb-04 3.2 Mar-04 3.5 Apr-04 3.4 May-04 3.2 Jun-04 3.4 Jul-04 3.2 Aug-04 3.3 Sep-04 3.2 Oct-04 3.4 Nov-04 3.6 Dec-04 3.4 Data for December 2004 is preliminary. The hires rate is the number of hires as a percent of total employment.