Annual hires and total separations, 2001-07 Annual levels Hires Total separations 2001 54,578,000 54,556,000 2002 49,718,000 49,597,000 2003 49,294,000 48,294,000 2004 54,721,000 51,779,000 2005 57,491,000 54,609,000 2006 59,158,000 55,199,000 2007 57,778,000 54,641,000