Technical information: (202) 691-5870 USDL 09-31
http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 Tuesday, January 13, 2009
JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: NOVEMBER 2008
On the last business day of November, there were 2.8 million job
openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.0
percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of
Labor reported today. The job openings rate declined in November,
matching the series low set in 2003. The hires rate fell sharply in
November to a series low of 2.6 percent. The total separations rate
was little changed in November, but the quits rate declined further to
1.4 percent, also a series low. 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.
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| Beginning with the release of January 2009 data on March 10, BLS will |
| implement improvements to the methodology used to generate estimates |
| of hires, separations, and job openings from the Job Openings and |
| Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) program. These changes are designed to |
| improve the measurement of hires, separations, and openings and to |
| more closely align the hires and separations estimates with monthly |
| employment change as measured by the BLS Current Employment Statistics |
| (establishment) survey. All JOLTS historical series will be revised |
| to incorporate the new methods and also will be released on March 10. |
| See the JOLTS web page (http://www.bls.gov/jlt/#notices) for a more |
| complete description of these changes. |
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Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Job openings | Hires | Total separations
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Industry | Nov. | Oct. | Nov. | Nov. | Oct. | Nov. | Nov. | Oct. | Nov.
| 2007 | 2008 | 2008p| 2007 | 2008 | 2008p| 2007 | 2008 | 2008p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|3,972 |3,001 |2,793 |4,672 |4,155 |3,548 |4,640 |4,299 |4,301
| | | | | | | | |
Total private(1).|3,520 |2,585 |2,419 |4,305 |3,852 |3,157 |4,367 |4,034 |4,042
Construction...| 138 | 64 | 67 | 351 | 334 | 236 | 322 | 418 | 455
Manufacturing..| 303 | 213 | 142 | 353 | 257 | 216 | 400 | 424 | 388
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and| | | | | | | | |
utilities(2)..| 648 | 507 | 554 | 946 | 837 | 726 |1,065 | 945 | 906
Retail trade..| 344 | 316 | 385 | 655 | 565 | 501 | 764 | 634 | 596
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services......| 685 | 498 | 459 | 902 | 748 | 719 | 878 | 771 | 750
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices.........| 713 | 606 | 592 | 527 | 512 | 438 | 423 | 427 | 402
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality(3)| 591 | 404 | 251 | 846 | 734 | 579 | 799 | 671 | 683
Accommodation | | | | | | | | |
and food | | | | | | | | |
services.....| 518 | 351 | 219 | 708 | 602 | 510 | 667 | 559 | 601
Government(4)....| 454 | 429 | 375 | 349 | 322 | 292 | 286 | 264 | 261
State and local| | | | | | | | |
government....| 404 | 367 | 358 | 287 | 278 | 263 | 240 | 234 | 232
|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Rates (percent)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........| 2.8 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.2
| | | | | | | | |
Total private(1).| 3.0 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.6
Construction...| 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 3.4 | 4.3 | 5.9 | 6.6
Manufacturing..| 2.2 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 2.9
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and| | | | | | | | |
utilities(2)..| 2.4 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 3.5
Retail trade..| 2.2 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 4.0
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services......| 3.7 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 4.3
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices.........| 3.7 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.1
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality(3)| 4.2 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 6.2 | 5.4 | 4.3 | 5.9 | 4.9 | 5.1
Accommodation | | | | | | | | |
and food | | | | | | | | |
services.....| 4.3 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 6.1 | 5.2 | 4.4 | 5.7 | 4.8 | 5.2
Government(4)....| 2.0 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2
State and local| | | | | | | | |
government....| 2.0 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2
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1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
2 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not
shown separately.
3 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately.
4 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.
Job Openings
The number of job openings declined in November 2008, continuing
the downward trend begun over a year ago. At 2.8 million in November,
openings were down 1.2 million, or 30 percent, from a year ago. The
job openings rate was 2.0 percent in November, matching the series low
set in September 2003. The job openings rate fell at the total
nonfarm level, and in manufacturing, accommodation and food services,
and government. The rate increased significantly in November only in
retail trade. (See table 1.)
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Over the last 12 months, the job openings rate (not seasonally
adjusted) rose significantly only in the retail industry and was
essentially unchanged in natural resources and mining; real estate and
rental and leasing; educational services; and other services. In the
remaining 13 industries, the job openings rate fell significantly over
the year. All four regions experienced a significant decline in the
job openings rate over the year. (See table 5.)
Hires
Hires fell sharply in November to 3.5 million, down 607,000 from
October and 1.1 million from a year ago. The overall hires rate
dropped to 2.6 percent in November due to declines in the rates for
manufacturing; trade, transportation, and utilities; leisure and
hospitality; and government. Regionally, the hires rate fell
significantly in November in three of the four regions-Midwest,
Northeast, and South. No industry or region experienced a significant
increase in the hires rate in November. (See table 2.)
Over the past 12 months, the hires rate did not increase
significantly in any industry or region but decreased for total
nonfarm and total private and in most industries, including
construction; durable goods manufacturing; nondurable goods
manufacturing; retail trade; real estate and rental and leasing;
professional and business services; health care and social assistance;
arts, entertainment, and recreation; accommodation and food services;
federal government; and state and local government. In the remainder
of the industries the hires rate decreased, but not significantly. In
all four regions, the hires rate dropped significantly over the past
12 months. (See table 6.)
Separations
The total separations, or turnover, rate was essentially
unchanged in November from October and from a year ago. The quits
rate can serve as a barometer of workers' ability to change jobs. The
quits rate fell in November to a new series low of 1.4 percent; the
prior low was 1.5 percent, occurring in several months in 2003.
Comparing November 2008 to November 2007, the quits rate was
significantly lower for total nonfarm and total private and in many
industries, including durable goods manufacturing; nondurable goods
manufacturing; retail trade; professional and business services;
healthcare and social assistance; arts, entertainment, and recreation;
accommodation and food services; and state and local government.
Regionally, the quits rate fell over the year in all four regions.
The quits rate did not rise significantly over the past 12 months in
any industry or region. (See tables 4, 7, and 8.)
The other two components of total separations-layoffs and
discharges, and other separations-are not seasonally adjusted. In
November, the layoffs and discharges rate (1.6 percent) and level (2.1
million) were higher than a year earlier due to increases in
construction; durable goods manufacturing; information; and finance
and insurance. The layoffs and discharges rate declined over the year
in other services and in federal government. The other separations
rate (0.2 percent) and level (285,000) were unchanged from a year
earlier at the total nonfarm level. (See tables 9 and 10.)
The total separations rate is driven by the relative contribution
of its three components (quits, layoffs and discharges, and other
separations), with quits contributing the largest portion. The
percentage of total separations attributable to quits has varied over
time and has been trending downward from a high of 61 percent in
December 2006. Quits accounted for only 43 percent of total
separations in November 2008, a new series low. The prior minimum was
50 percent, occurring in June 2003 and again in December 2003. (See
tables 3 and 4.)
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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 December 2008 is
scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, February 10.
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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 2007 version of the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS). In order to ensure the highest possible
quality of data, State Workforce Agencies verify with employers and up-
date, if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership classi-
fication 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
received pay for the pay period that includes the 12th day of the refer-
ence month. Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, sala-
ried, and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vaca-
tions 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 temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contrac-
tors, and consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the
establishment 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 out-
side the establishment to fill the position. Included are full-time,
part-time, permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings. Active re-
cruiting means that the establishment is taking steps to fill a position
by advertising in newspapers 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, out-
side 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.
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Hires. Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occur-
ring at any time during the reference month, including both new and
rehired employees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term and
seasonal employees, 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 contrac-
tors, 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 separa-
tions by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100. The quits,
layoffs and discharges, and other separations rates are computed simi-
larly, dividing the number by employment and multiplying by 100.
Annual estimates. Annual estimates of rates and levels of hires,
quits, layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total separations
are released with the January news release each year.
The JOLTS annual level estimates for hires, quits, layoffs and dis-
charges, other separations, and total separations are the sum of the
12 published monthly levels. The annual rate estimates are computed by
dividing the annual level by the Current Employment Statistics (CES)
annual average employment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100.
This figure will be approximately equal to the sum of the 12 monthly
rates. Note that both the JOLTS and CES annual levels are rounded to
the nearest thousand before the annual estimates are calculated. Con-
sistent with BLS practices, annual estimates will be published only for
not seasonally adjusted data.
Annual estimates are not calculated for job openings because job
openings are a stock, or point-in-time, measurement for the last busi-
ness day of each month. Only jobs still open on the last day of the
month are counted. For the same reason job openings cannot be cumulated
throughout each month, annual figures for job openings cannot be created
by summing the monthly estimates. Hires and separations are flow mea-
sures and are cumulated over the month with a total reported for the
month. Therefore, the annual figures can be created by summing the
monthly estimates.
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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 esti-
mates 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.
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 en-
rolled 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 sup-
plemental 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 reor-
ganization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these inter-
governmental 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, par-
ticularly those associated with general economic expansions and contrac-
tions. A concurrent seasonal adjustment 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.
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Prior to the January 2007 benchmark release in March 2007, seasonal adjust-
ment of the JOLTS series was conducted using the stable seasonal filter option
since there were not enough data observations available for the standard use
of moving averages as seasonal filters. Although the seasonal adjustment of
the JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than is customary,
the number of observations is now above the minimum required by X-12-ARIMA to
use the normal seasonal filters. Therefore, the standard use of moving aver-
ages as seasonal filter is now in place for JOLTS seasonal adjustment. JOLTS
seasonal adjustment now includes both additive and multiplicative seasonal
adjustment models and REGARIMA (regression with autocorrelated errors)
modeling to improve the seasonal adjustment factors at the beginning and end
of the series and to detect and adjust for outliers in the series.
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 explain net
changes in nonfarm payroll employment. Some reasons why it is problematic to
compare changes in payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations, espe-
cially 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 includes the 12th of the month. Addi-
tionally, 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 practices. 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 Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.
2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008p
Total(4)................................. 3,972 3,497 3,492 3,375 3,214 3,001 2,793 2.8 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.1 2.0
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)........................ 3,520 3,073 3,046 2,952 2,778 2,585 2,419 3.0 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.2 2.1
Construction........................... 138 100 94 85 110 64 67 1.8 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.5 .9 1.0
Manufacturing.......................... 303 241 229 245 213 213 142 2.2 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.1
Trade, transportation, and utilities(5) 648 539 569 572 458 507 554 2.4 2.0 2.1 2.1 1.7 1.9 2.1
Retail trade.......................... 344 322 346 357 260 316 385 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.3 1.7 2.0 2.5
Professional and business services..... 685 670 696 634 567 498 459 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.4 3.1 2.7 2.5
Education and health services.......... 713 682 687 643 617 606 592 3.7 3.5 3.5 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.0
Leisure and hospitality(6)............. 591 452 432 383 443 404 251 4.2 3.2 3.1 2.7 3.2 2.9 1.8
Accommodation and food services....... 518 406 388 316 373 351 219 4.3 3.4 3.2 2.6 3.1 2.9 1.9
Government(7)........................... 454 417 412 423 440 429 375 2.0 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.6
State and local government............. 404 361 362 363 387 367 358 2.0 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.8 1.8
REGION(8)
Northeast.............................. 629 608 615 617 590 541 506 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.1 2.0
South.................................. 1,620 1,440 1,384 1,317 1,240 1,191 1,086 3.2 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.2
Midwest................................ 755 676 638 664 664 629 566 2.3 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.0 1.8
West................................... 957 789 847 777 710 639 663 3.0 2.5 2.7 2.5 2.3 2.0 2.1
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.
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 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.
p = preliminary.
Table 2. Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels(3) (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.
2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008p
Total(4)................................. 4,672 4,438 4,026 4,063 4,362 4,155 3,548 3.4 3.2 2.9 3.0 3.2 3.0 2.6
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)........................ 4,305 4,136 3,751 3,822 4,090 3,852 3,157 3.7 3.6 3.3 3.3 3.6 3.4 2.8
Construction........................... 351 354 242 322 288 334 236 4.7 4.9 3.4 4.5 4.0 4.7 3.4
Manufacturing.......................... 353 285 249 251 281 257 216 2.6 2.1 1.8 1.9 2.1 1.9 1.6
Trade, transportation, and utilities(5) 946 906 858 878 875 837 726 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.2 2.8
Retail trade.......................... 655 608 585 619 616 565 501 4.2 4.0 3.8 4.0 4.0 3.7 3.3
Professional and business services..... 902 889 748 701 741 748 719 5.0 5.0 4.2 3.9 4.2 4.2 4.1
Education and health services.......... 527 485 474 509 514 512 438 2.8 2.6 2.5 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.3
Leisure and hospitality(6)............. 846 741 798 728 830 734 579 6.2 5.4 5.8 5.3 6.1 5.4 4.3
Accommodation and food services....... 708 645 683 626 681 602 510 6.1 5.5 5.9 5.4 5.9 5.2 4.4
Government(7)........................... 349 340 321 315 313 322 292 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3
State and local government............. 287 309 300 286 283 278 263 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3
REGION(8)
Northeast.............................. 761 761 657 679 688 629 518 3.0 3.0 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.0
South.................................. 1,828 1,666 1,512 1,549 1,570 1,516 1,323 3.7 3.4 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.1 2.7
Midwest................................ 1,027 966 934 926 1,020 973 779 3.3 3.1 3.0 2.9 3.3 3.1 2.5
West................................... 1,018 1,084 979 1,004 1,057 975 874 3.3 3.5 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.2 2.9
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.
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.
Table 3. Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels(3) (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.
2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008p
Total(4)................................. 4,640 4,368 4,359 4,398 4,042 4,299 4,301 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.2 2.9 3.1 3.2
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)........................ 4,367 4,115 4,128 4,149 3,792 4,034 4,042 3.8 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.3 3.5 3.6
Construction........................... 322 409 473 400 403 418 455 4.3 5.7 6.6 5.6 5.7 5.9 6.6
Manufacturing.......................... 400 353 324 325 335 424 388 2.9 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.5 3.2 2.9
Trade, transportation, and utilities(5) 1,065 1,003 1,013 933 916 945 906 4.0 3.8 3.8 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.5
Retail trade.......................... 764 679 692 642 581 634 596 4.9 4.4 4.5 4.2 3.8 4.2 4.0
Professional and business services..... 878 799 694 851 696 771 750 4.9 4.5 3.9 4.8 3.9 4.4 4.3
Education and health services.......... 423 417 464 424 378 427 402 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.2 2.0 2.2 2.1
Leisure and hospitality(6)............. 799 749 741 754 714 671 683 5.9 5.5 5.4 5.5 5.2 4.9 5.1
Accommodation and food services....... 667 641 629 652 634 559 601 5.7 5.5 5.4 5.6 5.5 4.8 5.2
Government(7)........................... 286 259 244 257 251 264 261 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.2
State and local government............. 240 233 222 231 233 234 232 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2
REGION(8)
Northeast.............................. 860 658 745 705 600 607 652 3.3 2.6 2.9 2.7 2.3 2.4 2.6
South.................................. 1,709 1,681 1,629 1,633 1,456 1,564 1,611 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.3 2.9 3.2 3.3
Midwest................................ 974 954 912 893 956 1,003 956 3.1 3.0 2.9 2.8 3.0 3.2 3.1
West................................... 1,117 1,089 1,099 1,142 1,017 1,123 1,116 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.3 3.7 3.7
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.
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.
Table 4. Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels(3) (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.
2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008p
Total(4)................................. 2,501 2,365 2,314 2,252 2,144 2,135 1,870 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.4
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)........................ 2,361 2,242 2,209 2,134 2,032 2,020 1,772 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.6
Construction........................... 116 139 157 150 118 108 81 1.5 1.9 2.2 2.1 1.7 1.5 1.2
Manufacturing.......................... 187 154 134 143 141 156 124 1.4 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.2 .9
Trade, transportation, and utilities(5) 572 545 545 485 494 488 401 2.1 2.1 2.1 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.5
Retail trade.......................... 433 391 405 355 351 340 292 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.3 2.3 2.2 1.9
Professional and business services..... 398 413 363 352 317 373 318 2.2 2.3 2.0 2.0 1.8 2.1 1.8
Education and health services.......... 269 246 268 234 234 259 219 1.5 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.1
Leisure and hospitality(6)............. 557 525 499 482 485 450 420 4.1 3.8 3.7 3.5 3.6 3.3 3.1
Accommodation and food services....... 516 481 452 445 423 416 393 4.4 4.1 3.9 3.8 3.6 3.6 3.4
Government(7)........................... 140 123 111 121 120 116 110 .6 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5
State and local government............. 125 114 104 113 121 107 101 .6 .6 .5 .6 .6 .5 .5
REGION(8)
Northeast.............................. 367 344 341 306 279 286 264 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.0
South.................................. 996 969 930 912 821 837 744 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.5
Midwest................................ 529 515 504 513 531 524 410 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.3
West................................... 607 539 541 518 492 493 451 2.0 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.5
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.
Table 5. Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.
2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p
Total........................................... 3,665 3,045 2,542 2.6 2.2 1.8
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,237 2,623 2,190 2.7 2.2 1.9
Natural resources and mining.................. 13 14 10 1.8 1.7 1.3
Construction.................................. 115 55 52 1.5 .7 .7
Manufacturing................................. 269 206 127 1.9 1.5 1.0
Durable goods................................ 157 113 71 1.8 1.3 .8
Nondurable goods............................. 111 93 57 2.2 1.9 1.1
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 581 582 510 2.1 2.2 1.9
Wholesale trade.............................. 115 99 63 1.9 1.6 1.1
Retail trade................................. 326 387 381 2.0 2.5 2.4
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 140 96 66 2.7 1.9 1.3
Information................................... 81 62 37 2.6 2.1 1.2
Financial activities.......................... 214 131 149 2.5 1.6 1.8
Finance and insurance........................ 170 95 107 2.7 1.6 1.7
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 44 36 42 2.0 1.7 2.0
Professional and business services............ 641 494 413 3.4 2.7 2.3
Education and health services................. 680 596 556 3.5 3.0 2.8
Educational services......................... 60 61 56 1.8 1.8 1.7
Health care and social assistance............ 620 536 500 3.8 3.2 3.0
Leisure and hospitality....................... 525 374 223 3.8 2.7 1.7
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 54 44 25 2.8 2.2 1.4
Accommodation and food services............. 471 329 198 3.9 2.8 1.7
Other services................................ 117 109 112 2.1 1.9 2.0
Government..................................... 427 422 352 1.8 1.8 1.5
Federal....................................... 46 60 16 1.7 2.1 .6
State and local............................... 381 362 336 1.9 1.8 1.6
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 599 592 471 2.3 2.2 1.8
South......................................... 1,493 1,195 988 2.9 2.3 2.0
Midwest....................................... 664 627 489 2.0 2.0 1.5
West.......................................... 908 631 594 2.8 2.0 1.9
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 See footnote 8, table 1.
p = preliminary.
Table 6. Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.
2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p
Total........................................... 4,230 4,217 3,120 3.0 3.1 2.3
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,974 3,921 2,918 3.4 3.4 2.6
Natural resources and mining.................. 19 27 17 2.6 3.4 2.1
Construction.................................. 276 304 180 3.6 4.2 2.6
Manufacturing................................. 291 258 177 2.1 1.9 1.3
Durable goods................................ 165 143 90 1.9 1.7 1.1
Nondurable goods............................. 126 115 87 2.5 2.3 1.8
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 1,063 977 793 3.9 3.7 3.0
Wholesale trade.............................. 140 158 105 2.3 2.6 1.8
Retail trade................................. 806 681 607 5.1 4.5 3.9
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 118 138 80 2.3 2.7 1.6
Information................................... 47 63 38 1.6 2.1 1.3
Financial activities.......................... 174 159 124 2.1 2.0 1.5
Finance and insurance........................ 105 101 92 1.7 1.7 1.5
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 69 59 32 3.2 2.8 1.5
Professional and business services............ 831 758 652 4.6 4.2 3.7
Education and health services................. 446 547 362 2.4 2.8 1.9
Educational services......................... 49 82 38 1.5 2.5 1.2
Health care and social assistance............ 397 465 324 2.6 2.9 2.0
Leisure and hospitality....................... 733 690 498 5.5 5.1 3.8
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 110 90 66 5.9 4.6 3.7
Accommodation and food services............. 623 600 432 5.4 5.2 3.8
Other services................................ 92 138 76 1.7 2.5 1.4
Government..................................... 256 295 202 1.1 1.3 .9
Federal....................................... 42 26 18 1.5 .9 .7
State and local............................... 214 269 183 1.1 1.3 .9
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 690 640 462 2.7 2.5 1.8
South......................................... 1,665 1,564 1,189 3.3 3.1 2.4
Midwest....................................... 910 1,022 661 2.9 3.3 2.1
West.......................................... 966 991 807 3.1 3.2 2.6
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 See footnote 8, table 1.
p = preliminary.
Table 7. Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.
2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p
Total........................................... 4,292 4,331 4,018 3.1 3.1 2.9
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 4,100 4,119 3,842 3.5 3.6 3.4
Natural resources and mining.................. 24 28 31 3.2 3.5 3.8
Construction.................................. 335 440 489 4.4 6.1 6.9
Manufacturing................................. 363 447 374 2.6 3.4 2.8
Durable goods................................ 207 285 233 2.4 3.4 2.8
Nondurable goods............................. 156 161 141 3.1 3.3 2.9
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 1,007 912 842 3.7 3.5 3.2
Wholesale trade.............................. 126 139 128 2.1 2.3 2.1
Retail trade................................. 734 602 553 4.6 4.0 3.6
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 147 171 161 2.8 3.4 3.2
Information................................... 52 79 62 1.7 2.7 2.1
Financial activities.......................... 162 183 193 2.0 2.2 2.4
Finance and insurance........................ 85 103 115 1.4 1.7 1.9
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 78 80 77 3.6 3.8 3.7
Professional and business services............ 861 775 766 4.7 4.3 4.3
Education and health services................. 341 389 315 1.8 2.0 1.6
Educational services......................... 39 45 36 1.2 1.4 1.1
Health care and social assistance............ 302 345 279 1.9 2.2 1.7
Leisure and hospitality....................... 778 749 653 5.8 5.6 5.0
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 149 135 97 8.0 6.9 5.3
Accommodation and food services............. 628 614 556 5.5 5.3 4.9
Other services................................ 177 118 118 3.2 2.1 2.2
Government..................................... 192 212 177 .8 .9 .8
Federal....................................... 23 18 13 .8 .6 .5
State and local............................... 169 194 164 .8 1.0 .8
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 780 596 601 3.0 2.3 2.3
South......................................... 1,463 1,572 1,377 2.9 3.2 2.8
Midwest....................................... 989 997 980 3.1 3.2 3.1
West.......................................... 1,060 1,166 1,061 3.4 3.8 3.4
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 See footnote 8, table 1.
p = preliminary.
Table 8. Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.
2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p
Total........................................... 2,190 2,125 1,600 1.6 1.5 1.2
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 2,089 2,031 1,523 1.8 1.8 1.3
Natural resources and mining.................. 10 16 12 1.3 2.0 1.5
Construction.................................. 96 113 57 1.3 1.6 .8
Manufacturing................................. 149 161 97 1.1 1.2 .7
Durable goods................................ 80 97 54 .9 1.2 .7
Nondurable goods............................. 69 64 43 1.4 1.3 .9
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 519 482 361 1.9 1.8 1.4
Wholesale trade.............................. 54 60 39 .9 1.0 .7
Retail trade................................. 407 336 273 2.6 2.2 1.8
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 59 86 49 1.1 1.7 1.0
Information................................... 34 27 20 1.1 .9 .7
Financial activities.......................... 95 92 81 1.2 1.1 1.0
Finance and insurance........................ 64 60 54 1.0 1.0 .9
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 31 33 27 1.5 1.6 1.3
Professional and business services............ 377 361 286 2.1 2.0 1.6
Education and health services................. 228 242 180 1.2 1.3 .9
Educational services......................... 23 21 16 .7 .7 .5
Health care and social assistance............ 205 221 164 1.3 1.4 1.0
Leisure and hospitality....................... 513 472 372 3.8 3.5 2.8
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 37 36 17 2.0 1.8 1.0
Accommodation and food services............. 476 436 354 4.1 3.8 3.1
Other services................................ 69 64 58 1.3 1.2 1.1
Government..................................... 101 95 77 .4 .4 .3
Federal....................................... 8 4 3 .3 .1 .1
State and local............................... 92 91 74 .5 .5 .4
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 332 282 235 1.3 1.1 .9
South......................................... 840 843 607 1.7 1.7 1.2
Midwest....................................... 485 515 379 1.5 1.6 1.2
West.......................................... 532 486 379 1.7 1.6 1.2
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 See footnote 8, table 1.
p = preliminary.
Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.
2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p
Total........................................... 1,817 1,927 2,133 1.3 1.4 1.6
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 1,758 1,848 2,065 1.5 1.6 1.8
Natural resources and mining.................. 12 10 19 1.7 1.2 2.3
Construction.................................. 217 309 412 2.9 4.3 5.8
Manufacturing................................. 187 250 258 1.4 1.9 2.0
Durable goods................................ 112 163 167 1.3 1.9 2.0
Nondurable goods............................. 75 87 91 1.5 1.8 1.9
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 403 367 400 1.5 1.4 1.5
Wholesale trade.............................. 63 72 81 1.0 1.2 1.4
Retail trade................................. 263 226 230 1.6 1.5 1.5
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 77 70 89 1.5 1.4 1.8
Information................................... 13 49 38 .4 1.7 1.3
Financial activities.......................... 56 69 83 .7 .8 1.0
Finance and insurance........................ 16 27 36 .3 .4 .6
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 41 42 48 1.9 2.0 2.3
Professional and business services............ 445 370 450 2.4 2.1 2.5
Education and health services................. 88 113 94 .5 .6 .5
Educational services......................... 13 20 18 .4 .6 .5
Health care and social assistance............ 74 93 76 .5 .6 .5
Leisure and hospitality....................... 243 264 259 1.8 2.0 2.0
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 110 98 74 5.9 5.0 4.1
Accommodation and food services............. 133 166 184 1.2 1.4 1.6
Other services................................ 93 49 53 1.7 .9 1.0
Government..................................... 59 79 68 .3 .3 .3
Federal....................................... 8 9 5 .3 .3 .2
State and local............................... 51 70 63 .3 .3 .3
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 401 266 304 1.5 1.0 1.2
South......................................... 535 618 676 1.1 1.2 1.4
Midwest....................................... 450 425 548 1.4 1.4 1.8
West.......................................... 430 617 605 1.4 2.0 2.0
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.
3 See footnote 8, table 1.
p = preliminary.
Table 10. Other separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.
2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p
Total........................................... 285 279 285 0.2 0.2 0.2
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 253 240 254 .2 .2 .2
Natural resources and mining.................. 2 2 (4) .2 .2 (4)
Construction.................................. 22 18 20 .3 .2 .3
Manufacturing................................. 26 36 19 .2 .3 .1
Durable goods................................ 14 26 12 .2 .3 .1
Nondurable goods............................. 12 10 7 .2 .2 .1
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 85 64 81 .3 .2 .3
Wholesale trade.............................. 9 7 8 .2 .1 .1
Retail trade................................. 64 41 50 .4 .3 .3
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 11 16 23 .2 .3 .5
Information................................... 5 3 5 .2 .1 .2
Financial activities.......................... 11 22 28 .1 .3 .3
Finance and insurance........................ 5 16 25 .1 .3 .4
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 6 6 3 .3 .3 .1
Professional and business services............ 39 44 30 .2 .2 .2
Education and health services................. 26 34 41 .1 .2 .2
Educational services......................... 3 4 2 .1 .1 .1
Health care and social assistance............ 23 30 38 .1 .2 .2
Leisure and hospitality....................... 22 14 23 .2 .1 .2
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 3 1 5 .1 .1 .3
Accommodation and food services............. 20 12 18 .2 .1 .2
Other services................................ 16 5 7 .3 .1 .1
Government..................................... 32 38 31 .1 .2 .1
Federal....................................... 6 6 5 .2 .2 .2
State and local............................... 26 33 27 .1 .2 .1
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 47 48 62 .2 .2 .2
South......................................... 88 112 94 .2 .2 .2
Midwest....................................... 53 56 53 .2 .2 .2
West.......................................... 97 63 77 .3 .2 .2
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.
3 See footnote 8, table 1.
4 Data round to zero.
p = preliminary.
United States Department of Labor
