Technical information: (202) 691-5870 USDL 08-0332
http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
For release: 10:00 A.M. (EDT)
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 Wednesday, March 12, 2008
JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: JANUARY 2008
On the last business day of January, there were 3.9 million job openings in
the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.8 percent, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The job open-
ings, hires, and total separations rates were essentially unchanged in January.
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.
This release also includes annual estimates for hires and separations. The
annual hires rate decreased in 2007 while the turnover, or separations, rate
was little changed.
Although the over-the-month changes in job openings, hires, and turnover data
were small, the over-the-year changes were significant. From January 2007 to
January 2008, the job openings, hires, quits, and total separations rates all
fell significantly for both the total nonfarm and total private sectors. (See
tables 5, 6, 7, and 8.)
Job Openings
In January, the total nonfarm job openings rate was 2.8 percent, unchanged from
December. Job openings include only those jobs open on the last business day of the
month. Over the month, the job openings rate did not change significantly in any
industry or region. As has occurred nearly every month since 2006, the seasonally
adjusted job openings rate was highest in the accommodation and food services indus-
try (4.0 percent). (See table 1.)
Over the year, the job openings rate rose in federal government (to 1.4 percent).
The rate fell over the year for total nonfarm (2.6 percent) and total private (2.7
percent) as well as in several industries, including construction (1.4 percent); dur-
able goods manufacturing (1.8 percent); retail trade (1.9 percent); transportation,
warehousing, and utilities (2.1 percent); information (2.1 percent); arts, entertain-
ment, and recreation (2.1 percent); other services (1.6 percent); and state and local
government (1.9 percent). Regionally, the job openings rate fell over the year in
the South (2.8 percent) and in the West (2.9 percent). (See table 5.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
| |
| Revisions to the JOLTS data |
| |
| The job openings, hires, and separations data in this release have|
|been revised to incorporate annual updates to the Current Employment |
|Statistics employment estimates and the Job Openings and Labor Turn- |
|over Survey (JOLTS) seasonal adjustment factors. See page 5 for more|
|information. |
---------------------------------------------------------------------
- 2 -
Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Job openings | Hires | Total separations
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Industry | Jan. | Dec. | Jan. | Jan. | Dec. | Jan. | Jan. | Dec. | Jan.
| 2007 | 2007 | 2008p| 2007 | 2007 | 2008p| 2007 | 2007 | 2008p
---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total (1)............|4,307 |3,974 |3,925 |4,992 |4,717 |4,545 |4,638 |4,408 |4,311
| | | | | | | | |
Total private (1)..|3,846 |3,526 |3,474 |4,630 |4,314 |4,109 |4,315 |4,107 |4,030
Construction.....| 191 | 140 | 125 | 305 | 335 | 298 | 385 | 331 | 306
Manufacturing....| 344 | 305 | 296 | 371 | 350 | 332 | 415 | 325 | 353
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and | | | | | | | | |
utilities (2)...| 763 | 667 | 656 |1,072 | 970 | 927 |1,028 | 981 | 983
Retail trade....| 424 | 358 | 353 | 793 | 693 | 678 | 706 | 686 | 668
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services........| 707 | 706 | 731 | 907 | 851 | 877 | 861 | 814 | 785
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices.......... | 714 | 698 | 692 | 514 | 460 | 500 | 409 | 417 | 437
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality (3).| 566 | 574 | 526 | 951 | 880 | 787 | 799 | 803 | 738
Accommodation | | | | | | | | |
and food | | | | | | | | |
services.......| 491 | 514 | 484 | 841 | 713 | 680 | 634 | 697 | 582
Government (4).....| 461 | 446 | 450 | 386 | 390 | 381 | 321 | 295 | 283
State and local | | | | | | | | |
government.......| 428 | 398 | 406 | 318 | 326 | 311 | 261 | 256 | 230
|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Rates (percent)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total (1)............| 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.1
| | | | | | | | |
Total private (1)..| 3.2 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.5
Construction.....| 2.4 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.4 | 4.1
Manufacturing....| 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 2.6
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and | | | | | | | | |
utilities (2)...| 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.7
Retail trade....| 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.3
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services........| 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.3
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices...........| 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.3
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality (3).| 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 7.2 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 5.4
Accommodation | | | | | | | | |
and food | | | | | | | | |
services.......| 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 7.4 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 6.0 | 5.0
Government(4)......| 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.3
State and local | | | | | | | | |
government......| 2.2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current
Employment Statistics employment estimates and the JOLTS seasonal adjustment
factors.
- 3 -
Hires
The hires rate was little changed at 3.3 percent in January. Hires are any addi-
tions to the payroll during the month. Over the month, the hires rate did not change
significantly in any industry or region. As occurs nearly every month, the season-
ally adjusted hires rate was highest in January in accommodation and food services
(5.8 percent). (See table 2.)
From January 2007 to January 2008, the hires rate decreased for total nonfarm (to
2.8 percent) and total private (3.1 percent) as well as in many industries, including
durable goods manufacturing (2.1 percent); retail trade (3.1 percent); transportation,
warehousing, and utilities (1.9 percent); information (2.2 percent); finance and in-
surance (1.9 percent); educational services (2.0 percent); and accommodation and food
services (4.5 percent). Regionally, the hires rate fell over the past 12 months in
3 of the 4 regions--South (3.2 percent), Midwest (2.7 percent), and West (2.7 percent).
The hires rate did not increase significantly in any industry or region over the year.
(See table 6.)
Separations
The total separations, or turnover, rate remained essentially unchanged at 3.1 per-
cent in January. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time
during the month. Over the month, the separations rate decreased in accommodation and
food services (to 5.0 percent); state and local government (1.2 percent); and in the
West region (3.2 percent). From January 2007 to January 2008, the total separations
rate rose in wholesale trade (2.7 percent). The rate fell over the year for total non-
farm (3.1 percent); total private (3.5 percent); construction (4.8 percent); nondurable
goods manufacturing (2.5 percent); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (3.0 per-
cent); educational services (1.3 percent); state and local government (0.9 percent);
and in the South region (3.2 percent). (See tables 3 and 7.)
Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and discharges
(involuntary separations), and other separations (including retirements). The quits
rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers’ ability to change jobs, fell in
January in accommodation and food services (to 3.8 percent). The quits rate did not
rise significantly in any industry or region over the month. As has occurred every
month since the series began in December 2000, the seasonally adjusted quits rate
was highest in the accommodation and food services industry. (See table 4.)
Over the year, the quits rate rose in real estate and rental and leasing (to
1.7 percent); the rate fell for total nonfarm (1.6 percent); total private (1.8 per-
cent); durable goods manufacturing (1.0 percent); nondurable goods manufacturing
(1.4 percent); professional and business services (1.8 percent); and in the Midwest
region (1.5 percent). (See table 8.)
- 4 -
The other two components of total separations--layoffs and discharges, and other
separations--are not seasonally adjusted. For January, the layoffs and discharges
rate (1.3 percent) and level (1.7 million) were essentially unchanged from a year
earlier. The layoffs and discharges rate in January 2008 was highest in construc-
tion (3.5 percent). The other separations rate (0.2 percent) and level (289,000)
were slightly lower than a year ago. (See tables 9 and 10.)
Flows in the Labor Market
Several industries consistently have high rates of both hires and separations.
These include construction; retail trade; professional and business services;
arts, entertainment, and recreation; and accommodation and food services. In the
12 months ending in January 2008, these 5 industries produced 33.2 million hires
and 31.7 million separations. Thus, these five industries accounted for 58 percent
of total nonfarm hires and 58 percent of total nonfarm separations while comprising
only 40 percent of total nonfarm employment. (See tables 6 and 7.)
Annual Levels and Rates
This release contains the 2007 annual rates and levels for hires, total separ-
ations, quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. (See tables 11
through 20.) Note that annual figures for job openings are not calculated because
job openings are measured on a stock, or point-in-time, basis rather than on a flow
basis over a specified time period. The annual figures and additional tables are
published with the release of January data each year. (See the Technical Note for
additional information on these measures.)
Calculating annual levels and rates allows additional comparisons across years.
There were 57.8 million hires in 2007, equivalent to 42.0 percent of employment.
Hires were down in 2007 after rising the preceding three years. Total separations
remained essentially flat for a second year with 54.6 million separations (39.7 per-
cent of employment) in 2007. Quits followed the same pattern as hires, decreasing
slightly in 2007 to 31.1 million after rising the preceding three years. Layoffs
and discharges rose in 2007 to 19.7 million after falling in 2006. Other separa-
tions fell to 3.9 million in 2007, in line with the years 2001 through 2005, after
rising sharply in 2006.
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 February 2008 is scheduled to be
issued on Tuesday, April 8.
- 5 -
Revisions to Job Openings and Labor Turnover Data
In accordance with annual practice, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey
(JOLTS) data have been revised to reflect annual updates to the Current Employment
Statistics (CES), or establishment survey, employment estimates. The JOLTS employ-
ment levels (not published) are ratio-adjusted to the CES employment levels, and
the resulting ratios are applied to all JOLTS data elements. This annual benchmark
process resulted in revisions to all not seasonally adjusted JOLTS data series from
April 2006 forward, the time period since the last benchmark was established. Addi-
tionally, the seasonally adjusted JOLTS data series have been recalculated from
December 2000 forward to reflect updated seasonal adjustment factors.
Table B through table G present revised total nonfarm data for January through
December 2007. The revised data incorporate the effect of applying the new bench-
mark level. The December 2007 revisions also reflect the routine incorporation of
additional sample receipts into the final December estimates. Table B (job openings),
table C (hires), table D (total separations), and table E (quits) present revised data
on a seasonally adjusted basis, incorporating the new seasonal adjustment factors as
well as the new benchmark level. Table F (layoffs and discharges) and table G (other
separations) present revisions on a not seasonally adjusted basis since those series
are not adjusted.
LABSTAT, the BLS public database on the Internet, contains all revised historical
seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted JOLTS data. The data can be accessed
through the JOLTS homepage at http://www.bls.gov/jlt/.
Further information on the revisions released today may be obtained by calling
(202) 691-5870 or via the Internet on the JOLTS homepage.
Table B. Revisions in job openings data, January-December 2007, seasonally
adjusted
_________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Levels (in thousands) | Rates (percent)
Year |---------------------------------- |----------------------------------
and | As | As | | As | As |
month | previously | revised | Difference | previously | revised | Difference
| published | | | published | |
__________|____________|_________|____________|____________|_________|___________
| | | | | |
2007 | | | | | |
| | | | | |
January...| 4,222 | 4,307 | 85 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0
February..| 4,149 | 4,168 | 19 | 2.9 | 2.9 | .0
March.....| 4,176 | 4,201 | 25 | 2.9 | 3.0 | .1
April.....| 4,170 | 4,148 | -22 | 2.9 | 2.9 | .0
May.......| 4,095 | 4,133 | 38 | 2.9 | 2.9 | .0
June......| 4,280 | 4,267 | -13 | 3.0 | 3.0 | .0
July......| 4,186 | 4,116 | -70 | 2.9 | 2.9 | .0
August....| 4,168 | 4,162 | -6 | 2.9 | 2.9 | .0
September.| 4,119 | 4,080 | -39 | 2.9 | 2.9 | .0
October...| 4,059 | 4,044 | -15 | 2.8 | 2.8 | .0
November..| 4,024 | 3,972 | -52 | 2.8 | 2.8 | .0
December..| 4,039 | 3,974 | -65 | 2.8 | 2.8 | .0
__________|____________|_________|____________|____________|_________|___________
- 6 -
Table C. Revisions in hires data, January-December 2007, seasonally adjusted
_________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Levels (in thousands) | Rates (percent)
Year |---------------------------------- |----------------------------------
and | As | As | | As | As |
month | previously | revised | Difference | previously | revised | Difference
| published | | | published | |
__________|____________|_________|____________|____________|_________|___________
| | | | | |
2007 | | | | | |
| | | | | |
January...| 4,959 | 4,992 | 33 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 0.0
February..| 4,815 | 4,800 | -15 | 3.5 | 3.5 | .0
March.....| 4,815 | 4,828 | 13 | 3.5 | 3.5 | .0
April.....| 4,832 | 4,816 | -16 | 3.5 | 3.5 | .0
May.......| 4,982 | 4,875 | -107 | 3.6 | 3.5 | -.1
June......| 4,741 | 4,843 | 102 | 3.4 | 3.5 | .1
July......| 4,802 | 4,818 | 16 | 3.5 | 3.5 | .0
August....| 4,836 | 4,796 | -40 | 3.5 | 3.5 | .0
September.| 4,714 | 4,700 | -14 | 3.4 | 3.4 | .0
October...| 4,870 | 4,914 | 44 | 3.5 | 3.6 | .1
November..| 4,657 | 4,672 | 15 | 3.4 | 3.4 | .0
December..| 4,636 | 4,717 | 81 | 3.3 | 3.4 | .1
__________|____________|_________|____________|____________|_________|___________
Table D. Revisions in total separations data, January-December 2007, seasonally
adjusted
_________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Levels (in thousands) | Rates (percent)
Year |-----------------------------------|----------------------------------
and | As | As | | As | As |
month | previously | revised | Difference | previously | revised | Difference
| published | | | published | |
__________|____________|_________|____________|____________|_________|___________
| | | | | |
2007 | | | | | |
| | | | | |
January...| 4,602 | 4,638 | 36 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 0.0
February..| 4,556 | 4,524 | -32 | 3.3 | 3.3 | .0
March.....| 4,741 | 4,663 | -78 | 3.4 | 3.4 | .0
April.....| 4,524 | 4,523 | -1 | 3.3 | 3.3 | .0
May.......| 4,544 | 4,542 | -2 | 3.3 | 3.3 | .0
June......| 4,543 | 4,609 | 66 | 3.3 | 3.3 | .0
July......| 4,507 | 4,562 | 55 | 3.3 | 3.3 | .0
August....| 4,446 | 4,502 | 56 | 3.2 | 3.3 | .1
September.| 4,430 | 4,456 | 26 | 3.2 | 3.2 | .0
October...| 4,639 | 4,594 | -45 | 3.4 | 3.3 | -.1
November..| 4,599 | 4,640 | 41 | 3.3 | 3.4 | .1
December..| 4,345 | 4,408 | 63 | 3.1 | 3.2 | .1
__________|____________|_________|____________|____________|_________|___________
- 7 -
Table E. Revisions in quits data, January-December 2007, seasonally adjusted
_________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Levels (in thousands) | Rates (percent)
Year |-----------------------------------|----------------------------------
and | As | As | | As | As |
month | previously | revised | Difference | previously | revised | Difference
| published | | | published | |
__________|____________|_________|____________|____________|_________|___________
| | | | | |
2007 | | | | | |
| | | | | |
January...| 2,648 | 2,689 | 41 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 0.1
February..| 2,705 | 2,666 | -39 | 2.0 | 1.9 | -.1
March.....| 2,763 | 2,684 | -79 | 2.0 | 2.0 | .0
April.....| 2,637 | 2,604 | -33 | 1.9 | 1.9 | .0
May.......| 2,686 | 2,657 | -29 | 1.9 | 1.9 | .0
June......| 2,627 | 2,612 | -15 | 1.9 | 1.9 | .0
July......| 2,640 | 2,621 | -19 | 1.9 | 1.9 | .0
August....| 2,539 | 2,553 | 14 | 1.8 | 1.9 | .1
September.| 2,450 | 2,396 | -54 | 1.8 | 1.7 | -.1
October...| 2,682 | 2,648 | -34 | 1.9 | 1.9 | .0
November..| 2,515 | 2,501 | -14 | 1.8 | 1.8 | .0
December..| 2,461 | 2,494 | 33 | 1.8 | 1.8 | .0
__________|____________|_________|____________|____________|_________|___________
Table F. Revisions in layoffs and discharges data, January-December 2007, not
seasonally adjusted
_________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Levels (in thousands) | Rates (percent)
Year |---------------------------------- |----------------------------------
and | As | As | | As | As |
month | previously | revised | Difference | previously | revised | Difference
| published | | | published | |
__________|____________|_________|____________|____________|_________|___________
| | | | | |
2007 | | | | | |
| | | | | |
January...| 1,755 | 1,751 | -4 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.0
February..| 1,275 | 1,276 | 1 | .9 | .9 | .0
March.....| 1,374 | 1,350 | -24 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0
April.....| 1,451 | 1,444 | -7 | 1.1 | 1.1 | .0
May.......| 1,380 | 1,378 | -2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0
June......| 1,562 | 1,680 | 118 | 1.1 | 1.2 | .1
July......| 1,471 | 1,525 | 54 | 1.1 | 1.1 | .0
August....| 1,819 | 1,884 | 65 | 1.3 | 1.4 | .1
September.| 1,924 | 1,981 | 57 | 1.4 | 1.4 | .0
October...| 1,796 | 1,786 | -10 | 1.3 | 1.3 | .0
November..| 1,769 | 1,817 | 48 | 1.3 | 1.3 | .0
December..| 1,785 | 1,802 | 17 | 1.3 | 1.3 | .0
__________|____________|_________|____________|____________|_________|___________
Table G. Revisions in other separations data, January-December 2007, not
seasonally adjusted
_________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Levels (in thousands) | Rates (percent)
Year |---------------------------------- |----------------------------------
and | As | As | | As | As |
month | previously | revised | Difference | previously | revised | Difference
| published | | | published | |
__________|____________|_________|____________|____________|_________|___________
| | | | | |
2007 | | | | | |
| | | | | |
January...| 396 | 362 | -34 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0
February..| 276 | 286 | 10 | .2 | .2 | .0
March.....| 305 | 313 | 8 | .2 | .2 | .0
April.....| 292 | 306 | 14 | .2 | .2 | .0
May.......| 313 | 310 | -3 | .2 | .2 | .0
June......| 419 | 387 | -32 | .3 | .3 | .0
July......| 365 | 380 | 15 | .3 | .3 | .0
August....| 347 | 346 | -1 | .3 | .3 | .0
September.| 301 | 305 | 4 | .2 | .2 | .0
October...| 251 | 246 | -5 | .2 | .2 | .0
November..| 285 | 285 | 0 | .2 | .2 | .0
December..| 324 | 342 | 18 | .2 | .2 | .0
__________|____________|_________|____________|____________|_________|___________
- 8 -
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.
- 9 -
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.
- 10 -
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.
- 11 -
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 Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.
2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008p 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008p
Total (4) ................................. 4,307 4,162 4,080 4,044 3,972 3,974 3,925 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8
INDUSTRY
Total private (4)......................... 3,846 3,717 3,637 3,597 3,520 3,526 3,474 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.9
Construction............................. 191 144 128 150 138 140 125 2.4 1.9 1.7 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.7
Manufacturing............................ 344 324 314 303 303 305 296 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.1
Trade, transportation, and utilities (5). 763 735 679 644 648 667 656 2.8 2.7 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4
Retail trade............................ 424 377 357 321 344 358 353 2.7 2.4 2.3 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.2
Professional and business services....... 707 689 673 758 685 706 731 3.8 3.7 3.6 4.0 3.7 3.7 3.9
Education and health services............ 714 700 712 704 713 698 692 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.6
Leisure and hospitality (6).............. 566 578 663 614 591 574 526 4.1 4.1 4.7 4.3 4.2 4.0 3.7
Accommodation and food services......... 491 509 595 543 518 514 484 4.1 4.2 4.9 4.5 4.3 4.2 4.0
Government (7)............................ 461 444 443 448 454 446 450 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0
State and local government............... 428 402 403 408 404 398 406 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0
REGION (8)
Northeast................................ 701 695 594 657 629 644 667 2.7 2.6 2.3 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.5
South.................................... 1,696 1,675 1,641 1,629 1,620 1,574 1,527 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.0
Midwest.................................. 808 773 787 747 755 779 746 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.3
West..................................... 1,073 1,035 1,054 1,014 957 988 976 3.4 3.2 3.3 3.2 3.0 3.1 3.1
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.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the
JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors.
Table 2. Hires levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels (3) (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.
2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008p 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008p
Total (4).................................. 4,992 4,796 4,700 4,914 4,672 4,717 4,545 3.6 3.5 3.4 3.6 3.4 3.4 3.3
INDUSTRY
Total private (4)......................... 4,630 4,371 4,325 4,552 4,305 4,314 4,109 4.0 3.8 3.7 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.5
Construction............................. 305 367 336 331 351 335 298 4.0 4.8 4.4 4.4 4.7 4.5 4.0
Manufacturing............................ 371 350 352 396 353 350 332 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.9 2.6 2.5 2.4
Trade, transportation, and utilities (5). 1,072 924 977 1,018 946 970 927 4.0 3.5 3.7 3.8 3.5 3.6 3.5
Retail trade............................ 793 677 699 699 655 693 678 5.1 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.2 4.5 4.4
Professional and business services....... 907 776 799 855 902 851 877 5.1 4.3 4.4 4.7 5.0 4.7 4.8
Education and health services............ 514 504 453 517 527 460 500 2.8 2.7 2.5 2.8 2.8 2.5 2.7
Leisure and hospitality (6).............. 951 898 888 924 846 880 787 7.2 6.7 6.6 6.8 6.2 6.4 5.8
Accommodation and food services......... 841 753 732 803 708 713 680 7.4 6.5 6.3 6.9 6.1 6.1 5.8
Government (7)............................ 386 393 359 373 349 390 381 1.7 1.8 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.7
State and local government............... 318 319 287 315 287 326 311 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.7 1.6
REGION (8)
Northeast................................ 797 753 689 653 761 770 770 3.1 2.9 2.7 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.0
South.................................... 1,933 1,835 1,844 1,924 1,828 1,802 1,756 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.9 3.7 3.6 3.5
Midwest.................................. 1,183 1,053 1,093 1,097 1,027 1,045 1,018 3.8 3.3 3.5 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.2
West..................................... 1,144 1,157 1,048 1,216 1,018 1,067 982 3.7 3.7 3.4 3.9 3.3 3.4 3.2
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.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the
JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors.
Table 3. Total separations levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels (3) (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.
2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008p 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008p
Total (4).................................. 4,638 4,502 4,456 4,594 4,640 4,408 4,311 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.2 3.1
INDUSTRY
Total private (4)......................... 4,315 4,166 4,168 4,314 4,367 4,107 4,030 3.8 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.5 3.5
Construction............................. 385 365 355 355 322 331 306 5.0 4.8 4.7 4.7 4.3 4.4 4.1
Manufacturing............................ 415 377 374 393 400 325 353 3.0 2.7 2.7 2.9 2.9 2.4 2.6
Trade, transportation, and utilities (5). 1,028 957 950 1,010 1,065 981 983 3.9 3.6 3.6 3.8 4.0 3.7 3.7
Retail trade............................ 706 674 683 702 764 686 668 4.6 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.9 4.4 4.3
Professional and business services....... 861 756 824 935 878 814 785 4.8 4.2 4.6 5.2 4.9 4.5 4.3
Education and health services............ 409 432 414 434 423 417 437 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.3
Leisure and hospitality (6).............. 799 797 730 761 799 803 738 6.0 5.9 5.4 5.6 5.9 5.9 5.4
Accommodation and food services......... 634 697 645 651 667 697 582 5.6 6.0 5.6 5.6 5.7 6.0 5.0
Government (7)............................ 321 326 290 286 286 295 283 1.5 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3
State and local government............... 261 259 219 238 240 256 230 1.3 1.3 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2
REGION (8)
Northeast................................ 700 683 635 652 860 635 663 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.5 3.3 2.5 2.6
South.................................... 1,816 1,720 1,786 1,764 1,709 1,712 1,661 3.7 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.3
Midwest.................................. 1,011 1,006 983 994 974 980 992 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.1
West..................................... 1,086 1,076 1,038 1,186 1,117 1,117 979 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.8 3.6 3.6 3.2
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.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the
JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors.
Table 4. Quits levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels (3) (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.
2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008p 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008p
Total (4).................................. 2,689 2,553 2,396 2,648 2,501 2,494 2,454 2.0 1.9 1.7 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.8
INDUSTRY
Total private (4)......................... 2,537 2,407 2,253 2,508 2,361 2,358 2,321 2.2 2.1 1.9 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.0
Construction............................. 151 141 132 137 116 119 107 2.0 1.9 1.7 1.8 1.5 1.6 1.4
Manufacturing............................ 237 199 183 199 187 182 181 1.7 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3
Trade, transportation, and utilities (5). 605 556 549 588 572 590 633 2.3 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.4
Retail trade............................ . 438 403 412 432 433 445 478 2.8 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.9 3.1
Professional and business services....... 499 394 405 479 398 367 346 2.8 2.2 2.2 2.7 2.2 2.0 1.9
Education and health services............ 264 273 253 264 269 258 278 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.5
Leisure and hospitality (6).............. 520 542 440 545 557 561 517 3.9 4.0 3.2 4.0 4.1 4.1 3.8
Accommodation and food services......... 465 496 367 503 516 513 446 4.1 4.3 3.2 4.3 4.4 4.4 3.8
Government (7)............................ 153 145 146 144 140 137 134 .7 .7 .7 .6 .6 .6 .6
State and local government............... 130 125 123 128 125 120 114 .7 .6 .6 .7 .6 .6 .6
REGION (8)
Northeast................................ 332 331 306 338 367 312 351 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.4
South.................................... 1,119 1,069 1,003 1,088 996 1,008 1,035 2.3 2.2 2.0 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.1
Midwest.................................. 606 535 524 524 529 521 505 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6
West..................................... 627 618 575 691 607 632 561 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.2 2.0 2.0 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.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the
JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors.
Table 5. Job openings levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.
2007 2007 2008p 2007 2007 2008p
Total........................................... 3,940 3,529 3,597 2.8 2.5 2.6
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,517 3,120 3,184 3.0 2.6 2.7
Natural resources and mining.................. 11 13 13 1.5 1.8 1.8
Construction.................................. 150 102 99 2.0 1.4 1.4
Manufacturing................................. 332 274 286 2.3 1.9 2.1
Durable goods................................ 207 152 157 2.3 1.7 1.8
Nondurable goods............................. 125 122 129 2.4 2.4 2.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 676 563 576 2.5 2.0 2.1
Wholesale trade.............................. 165 152 164 2.7 2.4 2.7
Retail trade................................. 373 285 305 2.4 1.7 1.9
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 138 125 106 2.7 2.4 2.1
Information................................... 140 68 63 4.5 2.2 2.1
Financial activities.......................... 220 198 238 2.6 2.3 2.8
Finance and insurance........................ 186 155 184 2.9 2.5 2.9
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 34 43 54 1.6 2.0 2.5
Professional and business services............ 686 653 713 3.8 3.5 3.9
Education and health services................. 673 670 651 3.6 3.4 3.4
Educational services......................... 54 57 50 1.9 1.8 1.7
Health care and social assistance............ 618 613 601 3.9 3.8 3.7
Leisure and hospitality....................... 494 465 459 3.7 3.4 3.4
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 66 44 39 3.7 2.3 2.1
Accommodation and food services............. 428 421 420 3.8 3.5 3.6
Other services................................ 135 115 86 2.4 2.0 1.6
Government..................................... 424 409 413 1.9 1.8 1.8
Federal....................................... 30 45 40 1.1 1.6 1.4
State and local............................... 393 364 373 2.0 1.8 1.9
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 638 554 608 2.5 2.1 2.3
South......................................... 1,567 1,407 1,404 3.1 2.7 2.8
Midwest....................................... 736 683 680 2.3 2.1 2.1
West.......................................... 1,000 884 905 3.2 2.8 2.9
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.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.
Table 6. Hires levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.
2007 2007 2008p 2007 2007 2008p
Total........................................... 4,301 3,462 3,850 3.2 2.5 2.8
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,956 3,229 3,510 3.5 2.8 3.1
Natural resources and mining.................. 21 17 20 3.1 2.3 2.7
Construction.................................. 221 208 212 3.0 2.8 3.0
Manufacturing................................. 360 232 323 2.6 1.7 2.4
Durable goods................................ 226 130 185 2.6 1.5 2.1
Nondurable goods............................. 134 101 138 2.6 2.0 2.8
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 822 785 714 3.1 2.9 2.7
Wholesale trade.............................. 133 107 138 2.2 1.7 2.3
Retail trade................................. 554 564 482 3.6 3.5 3.1
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 135 115 94 2.7 2.2 1.9
Information................................... 93 38 66 3.1 1.2 2.2
Financial activities.......................... 221 145 158 2.7 1.8 1.9
Finance and insurance........................ 165 99 118 2.7 1.6 1.9
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 56 46 40 2.6 2.2 1.9
Professional and business services............ 882 663 851 5.1 3.6 4.8
Education and health services................. 476 335 464 2.6 1.8 2.5
Educational services......................... 74 37 60 2.6 1.2 2.0
Health care and social assistance............ 402 298 404 2.7 1.9 2.6
Leisure and hospitality....................... 725 680 599 5.7 5.1 4.6
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 95 147 90 5.5 7.9 5.1
Accommodation and food services............. 630 532 509 5.7 4.6 4.5
Other services................................ 134 128 103 2.5 2.3 1.9
Government..................................... 345 233 340 1.6 1.0 1.5
Federal....................................... 58 50 60 2.1 1.8 2.2
State and local............................... 287 183 280 1.5 .9 1.4
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 613 575 600 2.4 2.2 2.4
South......................................... 1,758 1,317 1,587 3.6 2.6 3.2
Midwest....................................... 972 726 840 3.1 2.3 2.7
West.......................................... 957 844 823 3.2 2.7 2.7
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.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.
Table 7. Total separations levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.
2007 2007 2008p 2007 2007 2008p
Total........................................... 4,474 4,220 4,154 3.3 3.0 3.1
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 4,221 3,977 3,933 3.7 3.4 3.5
Natural resources and mining.................. 19 26 25 2.8 3.5 3.5
Construction.................................. 429 363 337 5.9 4.9 4.8
Manufacturing................................. 404 280 346 2.9 2.0 2.5
Durable goods................................ 245 149 224 2.8 1.7 2.6
Nondurable goods............................. 159 131 122 3.1 2.6 2.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 1,106 1,093 1,057 4.2 4.0 4.0
Wholesale trade.............................. 119 196 162 2.0 3.2 2.7
Retail trade................................. 791 786 746 5.2 4.9 4.8
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 196 112 150 3.9 2.2 3.0
Information................................... 76 49 64 2.5 1.6 2.1
Financial activities.......................... 159 202 198 1.9 2.4 2.4
Finance and insurance........................ 114 117 133 1.9 1.9 2.2
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 45 85 65 2.1 4.0 3.1
Professional and business services............ 831 797 760 4.8 4.4 4.3
Education and health services................. 381 346 401 2.1 1.8 2.2
Educational services......................... 58 41 38 2.0 1.3 1.3
Health care and social assistance............ 323 304 363 2.1 1.9 2.3
Leisure and hospitality....................... 671 683 618 5.3 5.1 4.7
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 105 78 101 6.0 4.2 5.7
Accommodation and food services............. 566 605 517 5.2 5.3 4.6
Other services................................ 145 140 126 2.7 2.5 2.3
Government..................................... 253 243 221 1.1 1.1 1.0
Federal....................................... 53 43 46 2.0 1.6 1.7
State and local............................... 200 201 175 1.0 1.0 .9
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 690 620 655 2.7 2.4 2.6
South......................................... 1,709 1,557 1,550 3.5 3.1 3.2
Midwest....................................... 1,026 974 1,009 3.3 3.1 3.2
West.......................................... 1,048 1,068 940 3.5 3.4 3.1
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.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.
Table 8. Quits levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.
2007 2007 2008p 2007 2007 2008p
Total........................................... 2,361 2,075 2,154 1.7 1.5 1.6
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 2,241 1,977 2,049 2.0 1.7 1.8
Natural resources and mining.................. 7 12 12 1.0 1.6 1.6
Construction.................................. 116 93 81 1.6 1.3 1.2
Manufacturing................................. 204 131 157 1.5 .9 1.1
Durable goods................................ 121 68 89 1.4 .8 1.0
Nondurable goods............................. 82 62 68 1.6 1.2 1.4
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 564 541 594 2.1 2.0 2.2
Wholesale trade.............................. 76 73 78 1.3 1.2 1.3
Retail trade................................. 410 414 451 2.7 2.6 2.9
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 78 54 65 1.6 1.1 1.3
Information................................... 49 28 38 1.6 .9 1.3
Financial activities.......................... 98 92 123 1.2 1.1 1.5
Finance and insurance........................ 82 46 87 1.3 .8 1.4
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 16 46 36 .8 2.1 1.7
Professional and business services............ 451 310 314 2.6 1.7 1.8
Education and health services................. 235 215 247 1.3 1.1 1.3
Educational services......................... 27 20 23 1.0 .7 .8
Health care and social assistance............ 208 195 225 1.4 1.2 1.4
Leisure and hospitality....................... 427 469 422 3.4 3.5 3.2
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 29 40 41 1.7 2.1 2.3
Accommodation and food services............. 398 429 380 3.6 3.7 3.4
Other services................................ 90 86 62 1.7 1.6 1.1
Government..................................... 120 98 104 .5 .4 .5
Federal....................................... 17 10 14 .6 .4 .5
State and local............................... 103 88 91 .5 .4 .5
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 282 248 298 1.1 1.0 1.2
South......................................... 990 839 914 2.0 1.7 1.9
Midwest....................................... 541 436 452 1.8 1.4 1.5
West.......................................... 547 552 489 1.8 1.8 1.6
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.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.
Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.
2007 2007 2008p 2007 2007 2008p
Total........................................... 1,751 1,802 1,711 1.3 1.3 1.3
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 1,679 1,713 1,646 1.5 1.5 1.4
Natural resources and mining.................. 8 11 9 1.2 1.4 1.3
Construction.................................. 285 246 244 3.9 3.3 3.5
Manufacturing................................. 167 129 157 1.2 .9 1.2
Durable goods................................ 98 69 112 1.1 .8 1.3
Nondurable goods............................. 69 60 46 1.4 1.2 .9
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 449 451 398 1.7 1.7 1.5
Wholesale trade.............................. 36 98 67 .6 1.6 1.1
Retail trade................................. 316 312 258 2.1 1.9 1.7
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 97 41 74 1.9 .8 1.5
Information................................... 22 15 24 .7 .5 .8
Financial activities.......................... 49 88 65 .6 1.1 .8
Finance and insurance........................ 25 51 39 .4 .8 .6
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 24 37 26 1.1 1.7 1.2
Professional and business services............ 325 438 394 1.9 2.4 2.2
Education and health services................. 105 94 125 .6 .5 .7
Educational services......................... 29 19 13 1.0 .6 .4
Health care and social assistance............ 77 76 112 .5 .5 .7
Leisure and hospitality....................... 222 193 167 1.8 1.4 1.3
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 72 35 58 4.1 1.9 3.2
Accommodation and food services............. 150 157 109 1.4 1.4 1.0
Other services................................ 47 49 62 .9 .9 1.1
Government..................................... 72 89 65 .3 .4 .3
Federal....................................... 14 22 15 .5 .8 .5
State and local............................... 58 67 50 .3 .3 .3
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 349 295 304 1.4 1.1 1.2
South......................................... 587 621 555 1.2 1.2 1.1
Midwest....................................... 409 461 466 1.3 1.5 1.5
West.......................................... 406 426 387 1.3 1.4 1.3
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.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.
Table 10. Other separations levels (1) and rates (2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.
2007 2007 2008p 2007 2007 2008p
Total........................................... 362 342 289 0.3 0.2 0.2
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 301 287 237 .3 .2 .2
Natural resources and mining.................. 4 4 5 .6 .5 .6
Construction.................................. 28 23 12 .4 .3 .2
Manufacturing................................. 34 21 32 .2 .1 .2
Durable goods................................ 25 12 24 .3 .1 .3
Nondurable goods............................. 8 9 9 .2 .2 .2
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 93 101 65 .4 .4 .2
Wholesale trade.............................. 7 25 17 .1 .4 .3
Retail trade................................. 65 60 37 .4 .4 .2
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 21 17 11 .4 .3 .2
Information................................... 4 6 2 .1 .2 .1
Financial activities.......................... 12 21 10 .1 .3 .1
Finance and insurance........................ 7 20 7 .1 .3 .1
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 5 2 3 .2 .1 .2
Professional and business services............ 55 49 52 .3 .3 .3
Education and health services................. 40 36 29 .2 .2 .2
Educational services......................... 2 2 3 .1 .1 .1
Health care and social assistance............ 38 34 26 .3 .2 .2
Leisure and hospitality....................... 22 21 29 .2 .2 .2
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 4 3 2 .2 .2 .1
Accommodation and food services............. 18 19 27 .2 .2 .2
Other services................................ 8 5 2 .2 .1 (4)
Government..................................... 61 56 52 .3 .2 .2
Federal....................................... 22 10 18 .8 .4 .7
State and local............................... 39 45 34 .2 .2 .2
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 59 77 53 .2 .3 .2
South......................................... 132 98 81 .3 .2 .2
Midwest....................................... 76 77 92 .2 .2 .3
West.......................................... 95 90 64 .3 .3 .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.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.
Table 11. Annual hires levels (1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Total........................................... 54,578 49,718 49,294 54,721 57,491 59,158 57,778
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 50,401 45,673 45,620 50,858 53,416 54,612 53,158
Natural resources and mining.................. 221 219 216 229 257 242 287
Construction.................................. 4,501 4,421 4,580 4,677 5,150 4,530 4,151
Manufacturing................................. 4,130 4,062 3,861 4,316 4,112 4,282 4,274
Durable goods................................ 2,239 2,356 2,389 2,718 2,592 2,545 2,437
Nondurable goods............................. 1,890 1,704 1,470 1,598 1,521 1,742 1,836
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 11,984 10,517 10,389 11,988 12,289 12,669 11,843
Wholesale trade.............................. 1,711 1,556 1,481 1,702 1,720 1,618 1,955
Retail trade................................. 8,621 7,557 7,423 8,392 8,530 8,964 8,219
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 1,651 1,406 1,489 1,893 2,039 2,087 1,669
Information................................... 967 799 748 792 881 965 807
Financial activities.......................... 2,207 2,002 2,031 2,292 2,281 2,505 2,634
Finance and insurance........................ 1,444 1,253 1,209 1,354 1,436 1,597 1,804
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 763 749 820 939 845 909 831
Professional and business services............ 8,521 7,758 7,842 9,416 10,554 10,989 10,379
Education and health services................. 5,484 5,133 5,164 5,253 5,619 5,888 6,009
Educational services......................... 686 587 726 713 721 842 882
Health care and social assistance............ 4,798 4,544 4,439 4,541 4,898 5,042 5,127
Leisure and hospitality....................... 10,397 8,868 8,628 9,670 9,893 10,388 10,661
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 1,543 1,383 1,349 1,495 1,503 1,545 1,631
Accommodation and food services............. 8,854 7,484 7,281 8,173 8,391 8,843 9,030
Other services................................ 1,992 1,899 2,160 2,223 2,384 2,152 2,114
Government..................................... 4,177 4,043 3,674 3,863 4,075 4,546 4,621
Federal....................................... 513 617 476 464 492 680 873
State and local............................... 3,667 3,426 3,197 3,399 3,586 3,866 3,749
REGION (2)
Northeast..................................... 9,102 7,900 8,687 9,745 9,331 9,102 8,680
South......................................... 20,335 19,079 18,705 20,998 22,069 23,327 22,616
Midwest....................................... 13,439 11,561 10,666 11,931 12,403 12,589 12,955
West.......................................... 11,703 11,179 11,236 12,048 13,689 14,140 13,527
1 The annual hires level is the total number of hires during the entire year.
2 See footnote 5, table 1.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.
Table 12. Annual hires rates (1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Rates
Industry and region 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Total........................................... 41.4 38.1 37.9 41.6 43.0 43.5 42.0
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 45.5 42.0 42.1 46.3 47.7 47.9 46.1
Natural resources and mining.................. 36.5 37.6 37.8 38.7 40.9 35.4 39.7
Construction.................................. 65.9 65.8 68.0 67.0 70.2 58.9 54.5
Manufacturing................................. 25.1 26.6 26.6 30.2 28.9 30.3 30.8
Durable goods................................ 21.7 24.8 26.7 30.5 28.9 28.3 27.6
Nondurable goods............................. 30.9 29.5 26.5 29.6 28.9 33.7 36.2
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 46.1 41.2 41.1 47.0 47.3 48.2 44.5
Wholesale trade.............................. 29.6 27.5 26.4 30.1 29.8 27.4 32.4
Retail trade................................. 56.6 50.3 49.8 55.7 55.8 58.4 53.1
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 33.2 29.2 31.3 39.3 41.5 41.6 32.8
Information................................... 26.6 23.5 23.5 25.4 28.8 31.8 26.6
Financial activities.......................... 28.3 25.5 25.5 28.5 28.0 30.1 31.7
Finance and insurance........................ 25.0 21.5 20.4 22.8 23.8 25.9 29.3
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 37.5 36.9 39.9 45.1 39.7 41.9 38.4
Professional and business services............ 51.7 48.6 49.1 57.4 62.3 62.6 57.8
Education and health services................. 35.1 31.7 31.1 31.0 32.3 33.0 32.8
Educational services......................... 27.3 22.2 26.9 25.8 25.4 29.0 29.9
Health care and social assistance............ 36.5 33.5 32.0 32.0 33.7 33.8 33.3
Leisure and hospitality....................... 86.4 74.0 70.9 77.4 77.2 79.2 79.1
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 84.6 77.6 74.4 80.8 79.4 80.1 82.5
Accommodation and food services............. 86.7 73.4 70.3 76.8 76.8 79.1 78.5
Other services................................ 37.9 35.3 40.0 41.1 44.2 39.6 38.5
Government..................................... 19.8 18.8 17.0 17.9 18.7 20.7 20.8
Federal....................................... 18.6 22.3 17.2 17.0 18.0 24.9 32.0
State and local............................... 20.0 18.3 17.0 18.0 18.8 20.1 19.2
REGION (2)
Northeast..................................... 36.2 31.7 34.9 39.2 37.3 35.9 33.9
South......................................... 43.7 41.4 40.7 44.9 46.1 47.6 45.6
Midwest....................................... 42.9 37.4 34.7 38.8 40.1 40.4 41.2
West.......................................... 40.7 39.3 39.6 41.5 45.9 46.3 43.7
1 The annual hires rate is the number of hires during the entire year as a percent of annual average
employment.
2 See footnote 5, table 1.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.
Table 13. Annual total separations levels (1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Total........................................... 54,556 49,597 48,294 51,779 54,609 55,199 54,641
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 51,406 46,454 45,136 48,479 51,286 51,492 50,925
Natural resources and mining.................. 233 229 218 216 206 219 275
Construction.................................. 4,794 4,531 4,555 4,638 4,847 4,657 4,285
Manufacturing................................. 6,177 5,121 4,350 4,255 4,469 4,442 4,612
Durable goods................................ 3,800 3,148 2,709 2,661 2,829 2,546 2,734
Nondurable goods............................. 2,378 1,972 1,641 1,591 1,640 1,894 1,880
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 12,324 11,108 10,682 11,704 11,983 12,031 11,859
Wholesale trade.............................. 1,820 1,777 1,647 1,720 1,602 1,732 1,885
Retail trade................................. 8,725 7,750 7,378 8,177 8,424 8,559 8,301
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 1,778 1,584 1,657 1,810 1,955 1,739 1,672
Information................................... 1,181 960 796 927 893 945 824
Financial activities.......................... 2,147 2,099 1,899 2,161 2,134 2,545 2,603
Finance and insurance........................ 1,369 1,330 1,162 1,339 1,367 1,613 1,746
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 776 772 738 824 769 931 858
Professional and business services............ 7,858 7,078 7,362 8,568 9,816 9,824 9,709
Education and health services................. 4,779 4,570 4,500 4,710 4,969 5,078 5,131
Educational services......................... 489 566 627 594 638 677 714
Health care and social assistance............ 4,292 4,001 3,874 4,118 4,331 4,403 4,417
Leisure and hospitality....................... 9,939 8,737 8,589 9,012 9,674 9,762 9,643
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 1,370 1,370 1,334 1,493 1,409 1,386 1,419
Accommodation and food services............. 8,570 7,366 7,257 7,520 8,266 8,379 8,223
Other services................................ 1,977 2,024 2,185 2,285 2,300 1,988 1,988
Government..................................... 3,150 3,144 3,158 3,298 3,325 3,707 3,715
Federal....................................... 403 409 468 414 446 656 739
State and local............................... 2,745 2,734 2,688 2,888 2,880 3,051 2,978
REGION (2)
Northeast..................................... 9,053 8,136 8,283 9,169 8,880 8,483 8,076
South......................................... 19,710 18,752 18,579 19,356 20,928 21,661 21,289
Midwest....................................... 13,856 11,307 10,596 11,378 12,032 12,103 11,974
West.......................................... 11,936 11,403 10,836 11,878 12,773 12,953 13,298
1 The annual total separations level is the total number of total separations during the entire year.
2 See footnote 5, table 1.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.
Table 14. Annual total separations rates (1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Rates
Industry and region 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Total........................................... 41.4 38.1 37.1 39.4 40.8 40.6 39.7
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 46.4 42.7 41.6 44.1 45.8 45.1 44.1
Natural resources and mining.................. 38.4 39.3 38.1 36.5 32.8 32.0 38.0
Construction.................................. 70.2 67.5 67.6 66.5 66.1 60.6 56.3
Manufacturing................................. 37.6 33.6 30.0 29.7 31.4 31.4 33.2
Durable goods................................ 36.8 33.2 30.2 29.8 31.6 28.3 31.0
Nondurable goods............................. 38.9 34.1 29.6 29.5 31.1 36.6 37.1
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 47.4 43.6 42.2 45.8 46.2 45.8 44.6
Wholesale trade.............................. 31.5 31.4 29.4 30.4 27.8 29.3 31.3
Retail trade................................. 57.3 51.6 49.5 54.3 55.1 55.7 53.6
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 35.8 32.9 34.8 37.6 39.8 34.7 32.9
Information................................... 32.5 28.3 25.0 29.7 29.2 31.1 27.2
Financial activities.......................... 27.5 26.7 23.8 26.9 26.2 30.6 31.3
Finance and insurance........................ 23.7 22.9 19.6 22.5 22.7 26.2 28.4
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 38.1 38.0 35.9 39.6 36.1 42.9 39.7
Professional and business services............ 47.7 44.3 46.0 52.3 57.9 55.9 54.0
Education and health services................. 30.5 28.2 27.1 27.8 28.6 28.5 28.0
Educational services......................... 19.5 21.4 23.3 21.5 22.5 23.3 24.2
Health care and social assistance............ 32.7 29.5 27.9 29.0 29.8 29.5 28.7
Leisure and hospitality....................... 82.6 72.9 70.6 72.1 75.5 74.5 71.6
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 75.1 76.8 73.6 80.7 74.5 71.9 71.7
Accommodation and food services............. 83.9 72.2 70.0 70.7 75.7 74.9 71.5
Other services................................ 37.6 37.7 40.5 42.2 42.6 36.6 36.2
Government..................................... 14.9 14.6 14.6 15.3 15.2 16.9 16.7
Federal....................................... 14.6 14.8 17.0 15.2 16.3 24.0 27.1
State and local............................... 15.0 14.6 14.3 15.3 15.1 15.9 15.3
REGION (2)
Northeast..................................... 36.0 32.6 33.3 36.9 35.5 33.5 31.5
South......................................... 42.3 40.7 40.4 41.3 43.7 44.2 42.9
Midwest....................................... 44.2 36.6 34.4 37.0 38.9 38.8 38.1
West.......................................... 41.5 40.1 38.2 41.0 42.8 42.4 43.0
1 The annual total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire year as a
percent of annual average employment.
2 See footnote 5, table 1.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.
Table 15. Annual quits levels (1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Total........................................... 30,817 26,833 24,881 27,939 30,825 32,179 31,096
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 29,127 25,282 23,452 26,375 29,229 30,352 29,334
Natural resources and mining.................. 103 87 83 98 110 124 161
Construction.................................. 1,869 1,657 1,563 1,766 2,098 1,992 1,615
Manufacturing................................. 2,463 2,142 1,870 2,140 2,288 2,364 2,385
Durable goods................................ 1,423 1,271 1,161 1,322 1,421 1,351 1,343
Nondurable goods............................. 1,042 870 712 815 868 1,013 1,038
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 7,499 6,401 5,738 6,581 7,117 7,325 7,021
Wholesale trade.............................. 979 918 845 881 873 969 1,018
Retail trade................................. 5,591 4,730 4,229 4,927 5,340 5,395 5,167
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 929 756 664 772 904 962 838
Information................................... 682 496 440 499 581 669 500
Financial activities.......................... 1,259 1,177 1,103 1,315 1,262 1,534 1,538
Finance and insurance........................ 830 767 666 814 850 1,023 1,101
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 428 410 436 499 412 509 436
Professional and business services............ 4,293 3,679 3,453 4,085 4,698 5,273 5,100
Education and health services................. 3,184 2,835 2,723 2,933 3,219 3,294 3,232
Educational services......................... 282 312 293 304 354 364 340
Health care and social assistance............ 2,905 2,526 2,427 2,630 2,865 2,932 2,890
Leisure and hospitality....................... 6,647 5,605 5,309 5,554 6,396 6,673 6,561
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 609 619 537 505 596 559 571
Accommodation and food services............. 6,038 4,989 4,775 5,049 5,802 6,114 5,992
Other services................................ 1,128 1,200 1,176 1,402 1,458 1,101 1,218
Government..................................... 1,690 1,553 1,428 1,562 1,598 1,830 1,762
Federal....................................... 254 209 194 163 173 292 252
State and local............................... 1,436 1,343 1,234 1,397 1,426 1,537 1,508
REGION (2)
Northeast..................................... 4,929 3,971 3,660 4,104 4,504 4,507 4,019
South......................................... 11,783 10,708 10,200 11,304 12,521 13,628 13,020
Midwest....................................... 7,727 6,057 5,467 6,034 6,521 6,756 6,558
West.......................................... 6,380 6,097 5,552 6,495 7,283 7,290 7,496
1 The annual quits level is the total number of quits during the entire year.
2 See footnote 5, table 1.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.
Table 16. Annual quits rates (1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Rates
Industry and region 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Total........................................... 23.4 20.6 19.1 21.3 23.1 23.6 22.6
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 26.3 23.2 21.6 24.0 26.1 26.6 25.4
Natural resources and mining.................. 17.0 14.9 14.5 16.6 17.5 18.1 22.3
Construction.................................. 27.4 24.7 23.2 25.3 28.6 25.9 21.2
Manufacturing................................. 15.0 14.0 12.9 14.9 16.1 16.7 17.2
Durable goods................................ 13.8 13.4 13.0 14.8 15.9 15.0 15.2
Nondurable goods............................. 17.1 15.1 12.8 15.1 16.5 19.6 20.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 28.9 25.1 22.7 25.8 27.4 27.9 26.4
Wholesale trade.............................. 17.0 16.2 15.1 15.6 15.1 16.4 16.9
Retail trade................................. 36.7 31.5 28.4 32.7 34.9 35.1 33.4
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 18.7 15.7 13.9 16.0 18.4 19.2 16.5
Information................................... 18.8 14.6 13.8 16.0 19.0 22.0 16.5
Financial activities.......................... 16.1 15.0 13.8 16.4 15.5 18.4 18.5
Finance and insurance........................ 14.4 13.2 11.2 13.7 14.1 16.6 17.9
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 21.0 20.2 21.2 24.0 19.3 23.4 20.2
Professional and business services............ 26.1 23.0 21.6 24.9 27.7 30.0 28.4
Education and health services................. 20.4 17.5 16.4 17.3 18.5 18.5 17.6
Educational services......................... 11.2 11.8 10.9 11.0 12.5 12.5 11.5
Health care and social assistance............ 22.1 18.6 17.5 18.5 19.7 19.6 18.8
Leisure and hospitality....................... 55.2 46.8 43.6 44.5 49.9 50.9 48.7
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 33.4 34.7 29.6 27.3 31.5 29.0 28.9
Accommodation and food services............. 59.1 48.9 46.1 47.4 53.1 54.7 52.1
Other services................................ 21.5 22.3 21.8 25.9 27.0 20.2 22.2
Government..................................... 8.0 7.2 6.6 7.2 7.3 8.3 7.9
Federal....................................... 9.2 7.6 7.0 6.0 6.3 10.7 9.2
State and local............................... 7.8 7.2 6.6 7.4 7.5 8.0 7.7
REGION (2)
Northeast..................................... 19.6 15.9 14.7 16.5 18.0 17.8 15.7
South......................................... 25.3 23.3 22.2 24.1 26.1 27.8 26.2
Midwest....................................... 24.7 19.6 17.8 19.6 21.1 21.7 20.9
West.......................................... 22.2 21.4 19.6 22.4 24.4 23.9 24.2
1 The annual quits rate is the number of quits during the entire year as a percent of annual average
employment.
2 See footnote 5, table 1.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.
Table 17. Annual layoffs and discharges levels (1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Total........................................... 19,954 19,023 19,746 20,153 20,014 18,792 19,674
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 19,048 18,057 18,628 19,048 18,886 17,578 18,505
Natural resources and mining.................. 107 103 95 70 70 65 85
Construction.................................. 2,697 2,705 2,827 2,677 2,564 2,382 2,465
Manufacturing................................. 3,186 2,555 2,073 1,799 1,771 1,700 1,867
Durable goods................................ 1,995 1,600 1,285 1,129 1,108 946 1,154
Nondurable goods............................. 1,197 956 788 673 662 758 717
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 4,147 3,944 4,151 4,315 4,144 3,709 3,941
Wholesale trade.............................. 727 733 666 706 628 581 752
Retail trade................................. 2,713 2,534 2,691 2,750 2,651 2,548 2,552
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 706 674 791 860 865 581 634
Information................................... 415 394 306 360 231 199 235
Financial activities.......................... 645 723 576 605 677 774 854
Finance and insurance........................ 347 409 329 321 356 409 504
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 298 313 247 283 319 363 352
Professional and business services............ 3,012 2,771 3,367 3,922 4,370 3,822 4,087
Education and health services................. 1,226 1,369 1,428 1,441 1,415 1,414 1,521
Educational services......................... 150 209 285 251 239 270 331
Health care and social assistance............ 1,076 1,161 1,143 1,191 1,174 1,144 1,192
Leisure and hospitality....................... 2,924 2,804 2,941 3,116 2,947 2,807 2,797
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 728 725 771 957 782 787 806
Accommodation and food services............. 2,197 2,077 2,173 2,160 2,160 2,019 1,991
Other services................................ 685 686 860 740 701 705 652
Government..................................... 907 967 1,120 1,102 1,128 1,215 1,171
Federal....................................... 61 117 164 111 148 184 205
State and local............................... 846 849 954 994 981 1,031 966
REGION (2)
Northeast..................................... 3,425 3,447 3,899 4,282 3,739 3,220 3,344
South......................................... 6,566 6,726 7,065 6,741 7,095 6,476 6,986
Midwest....................................... 5,121 4,394 4,336 4,558 4,656 4,404 4,538
West.......................................... 4,843 4,455 4,450 4,573 4,524 4,694 4,807
1 The annual layoffs and discharges level is the total number of layoffs and discharges during the entire
year.
2 See footnote 5, table 1.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.
Table 18. Annual layoffs and discharges rates (1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Rates
Industry and region 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Total........................................... 15.1 14.6 15.2 15.3 15.0 13.8 14.3
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 17.2 16.6 17.2 17.3 16.9 15.4 16.0
Natural resources and mining.................. 17.7 17.7 16.6 11.8 11.1 9.5 11.8
Construction.................................. 39.5 40.3 42.0 38.4 35.0 31.0 32.4
Manufacturing................................. 19.4 16.7 14.3 12.6 12.4 12.0 13.4
Durable goods................................ 19.3 16.9 14.3 12.7 12.4 10.5 13.1
Nondurable goods............................. 19.6 16.6 14.2 12.5 12.6 14.7 14.2
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 16.0 15.5 16.4 16.9 16.0 14.1 14.8
Wholesale trade.............................. 12.6 13.0 11.9 12.5 10.9 9.8 12.5
Retail trade................................. 17.8 16.9 18.0 18.3 17.3 16.6 16.5
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 14.2 14.0 16.6 17.9 17.6 11.6 12.5
Information................................... 11.4 11.6 9.6 11.5 7.5 6.6 7.8
Financial activities.......................... 8.3 9.2 7.2 7.5 8.3 9.3 10.3
Finance and insurance........................ 6.0 7.0 5.6 5.4 5.9 6.6 8.2
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 14.6 15.4 12.0 13.6 15.0 16.7 16.3
Professional and business services............ 18.3 17.3 21.1 23.9 25.8 21.8 22.8
Education and health services................. 7.8 8.5 8.6 8.5 8.1 7.9 8.3
Educational services......................... 6.0 7.9 10.6 9.1 8.4 9.3 11.2
Health care and social assistance............ 8.2 8.6 8.2 8.4 8.1 7.7 7.8
Leisure and hospitality....................... 24.3 23.4 24.2 24.9 23.0 21.4 20.8
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 39.9 40.7 42.5 51.7 41.3 40.8 40.7
Accommodation and food services............. 21.5 20.4 21.0 20.3 19.8 18.1 17.3
Other services................................ 13.0 12.8 15.9 13.7 13.0 13.0 11.9
Government..................................... 4.3 4.5 5.2 5.1 5.2 5.5 5.3
Federal....................................... 2.2 4.2 5.9 4.1 5.4 6.7 7.5
State and local............................... 4.6 4.5 5.1 5.3 5.1 5.4 5.0
REGION (2)
Northeast..................................... 13.6 13.8 15.7 17.2 14.9 12.7 13.0
South......................................... 14.1 14.6 15.4 14.4 14.8 13.2 14.1
Midwest....................................... 16.3 14.2 14.1 14.8 15.0 14.1 14.4
West.......................................... 16.8 15.7 15.7 15.8 15.2 15.4 15.5
1 The annual layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire year
as a percent of annual average employment.
2 See footnote 5, table 1.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.
Table 19. Annual other separations levels (1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Total........................................... 3,784 3,742 3,666 3,689 3,770 4,227 3,868
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,231 3,116 3,055 3,056 3,169 3,563 3,088
Natural resources and mining.................. 24 39 43 45 24 31 30
Construction.................................. 227 170 165 198 183 285 203
Manufacturing................................. 528 423 406 315 407 376 359
Durable goods................................ 386 277 263 210 300 252 233
Nondurable goods............................. 143 147 144 104 106 124 125
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 677 762 795 810 720 995 897
Wholesale trade.............................. 115 125 132 130 103 183 116
Retail trade................................. 420 484 458 501 432 615 581
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 141 152 203 178 186 199 200
Information................................... 84 69 50 65 81 73 87
Financial activities.......................... 240 201 223 243 198 239 208
Finance and insurance........................ 193 153 167 202 161 180 141
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 50 49 56 41 38 59 68
Professional and business services............ 551 627 543 562 745 727 520
Education and health services................. 365 361 351 333 335 370 377
Educational services......................... 57 49 48 38 43 43 41
Health care and social assistance............ 311 315 303 294 289 327 335
Leisure and hospitality....................... 369 326 340 342 332 282 283
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 35 29 30 32 31 39 45
Accommodation and food services............. 331 298 311 308 301 244 242
Other services................................ 166 135 148 147 142 183 119
Government..................................... 553 623 610 634 600 663 782
Federal....................................... 88 86 109 138 128 180 280
State and local............................... 464 539 500 495 474 479 502
REGION (2)
Northeast..................................... 700 719 724 786 639 757 714
South......................................... 1,360 1,319 1,313 1,310 1,312 1,557 1,285
Midwest....................................... 1,011 854 793 784 855 943 876
West.......................................... 714 853 838 810 964 966 992
1 The annual other separations level is the total number of other separations during the entire year.
2 See footnote 5, table 1.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.
Table 20. Annual other separations rates (1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Rates
Industry and region 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Total........................................... 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.8 3.1 2.8
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.8 3.1 2.7
Natural resources and mining.................. 4.0 6.7 7.5 7.6 3.8 4.5 4.1
Construction.................................. 3.3 2.5 2.4 2.8 2.5 3.7 2.7
Manufacturing................................. 3.2 2.8 2.8 2.2 2.9 2.7 2.6
Durable goods................................ 3.7 2.9 2.9 2.4 3.4 2.8 2.6
Nondurable goods............................. 2.3 2.5 2.6 1.9 2.0 2.4 2.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 2.6 3.0 3.1 3.2 2.8 3.8 3.4
Wholesale trade.............................. 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.3 1.8 3.1 1.9
Retail trade................................. 2.8 3.2 3.1 3.3 2.8 4.0 3.8
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 2.8 3.2 4.3 3.7 3.8 4.0 3.9
Information................................... 2.3 2.0 1.6 2.1 2.6 2.4 2.9
Financial activities.......................... 3.1 2.6 2.8 3.0 2.4 2.9 2.5
Finance and insurance........................ 3.3 2.6 2.8 3.4 2.7 2.9 2.3
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 2.5 2.4 2.7 2.0 1.8 2.7 3.1
Professional and business services............ 3.3 3.9 3.4 3.4 4.4 4.1 2.9
Education and health services................. 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.0 1.9 2.1 2.1
Educational services......................... 2.3 1.9 1.8 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.4
Health care and social assistance............ 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.0 2.2 2.2
Leisure and hospitality....................... 3.1 2.7 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.2 2.1
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 1.9 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.6 2.0 2.3
Accommodation and food services............. 3.2 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.2 2.1
Other services................................ 3.2 2.5 2.7 2.7 2.6 3.4 2.2
Government..................................... 2.6 2.9 2.8 2.9 2.8 3.0 3.5
Federal....................................... 3.2 3.1 3.9 5.1 4.7 6.6 10.3
State and local............................... 2.5 2.9 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.6
REGION (2)
Northeast..................................... 2.8 2.9 2.9 3.2 2.6 3.0 2.8
South......................................... 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.7 3.2 2.6
Midwest....................................... 3.2 2.8 2.6 2.5 2.8 3.0 2.8
West.......................................... 2.5 3.0 3.0 2.8 3.2 3.2 3.2
1 The annual other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire year as a
percent of annual average employment.
2 See footnote 5, table 1.
NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.
United States Department of Labor
