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Economic News Release
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Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey News Release

                                   
For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Tuesday, November 6, 2012     USDL-12-2202

Technical information:   (202) 691-5870  •  JoltsInfo@bls.gov  •  www.bls.gov/jlt
Media contact:           (202) 691-5902  •  PressOffice@bls.gov


           Job Openings and Labor Turnover – September 2012

There were 3.6 million job openings on the last business day of
September, essentially unchanged from August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics reported today. The hires rate (3.1 percent) was little
changed while the separations rate (3.0 percent) declined in
September. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of
job openings, hires, and separations for the nonfarm sector by
industry and by geographic region.

Job Openings

The number of job openings in September was 3.6 million, essentially
unchanged from August. (See table 1.) The number of openings was
little changed in all industries except government and professional
and business services, where the number decreased. The number of
openings was also little changed in all four regions in September. The
level of total nonfarm job openings in September was up from 2.4
million at the end of the recession in June 2009. (Recession dates are
determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research.)

The number of job openings in September (not seasonally adjusted) was
essentially unchanged over the year for total nonfarm, total private,
and government. Job openings increased over the year for nondurable
goods manufacturing, finance and insurance, real estate and rental and
leasing, health care and social assistance, and federal government,
but fell in mining and logging, durable goods manufacturing, and state
and local government. The Midwest region experienced a rise in job
openings over the year. (See table 7.)

Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations
                               |--------------------------------------------------------------
     Industry                  | Sept.| Aug. | Sept.| Sept.| Aug. | Sept.| Sept.| Aug. | Sept.
                               | 2011 | 2012 | 2012p| 2011 | 2012 | 2012p| 2011 | 2012 | 2012p
-------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                               |                     Levels (in thousands)
                               |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total..........................|3,501 |3,661 |3,561 |4,276 |4,440 |4,185 |4,089 |4,355 |4,024
                               |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
 Total private(1)..............|3,100 |3,257 |3,192 |4,002 |4,109 |3,908 |3,808 |4,062 |3,766
  Construction.................|   78 |   81 |   77 |  360 |  323 |  346 |  324 |  316 |  354
  Manufacturing................|  249 |  257 |  238 |  240 |  230 |  226 |  236 |  250 |  239
  Trade, transportation,       |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   and utilities(2)............|  599 |  592 |  597 |  810 |  892 |  824 |  811 |  883 |  806
   Retail trade................|  359 |  350 |  358 |  567 |  577 |  548 |  567 |  587 |  552
  Professional and             |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   business services...........|  692 |  761 |  651 |  911 |  915 |  863 |  857 |  911 |  832
  Education and health         |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   services(3).................|  600 |  661 |  697 |  486 |  502 |  497 |  409 |  474 |  434
   Health care and             |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
    social assistance..........|  530 |  601 |  632 |  391 |  430 |  419 |  342 |  404 |  371
  Leisure and hospitality......|  392 |  405 |  389 |  736 |  747 |  695 |  716 |  730 |  673
   Arts, entertainment         |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
    and recreation.............|   56 |   50 |   51 |  135 |  104 |  101 |  140 |   88 |  103
   Accommodation and           |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
    food services..............|  336 |  355 |  339 |  600 |  643 |  594 |  576 |  642 |  570
 Government(4).................|  400 |  404 |  368 |  275 |  332 |  277 |  281 |  292 |  258
  State and local..............|  345 |  327 |  299 |  248 |  300 |  243 |  250 |  262 |  228
                               |--------------------------------------------------------------
                               |                       Rates (percent)
                               |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total..........................|  2.6 |  2.7 |  2.6 |  3.2 |  3.3 |  3.1 |  3.1 |  3.3 |  3.0
                               |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
 Total private(1)..............|  2.7 |  2.8 |  2.8 |  3.6 |  3.7 |  3.5 |  3.5 |  3.6 |  3.4
  Construction.................|  1.4 |  1.4 |  1.4 |  6.5 |  5.9 |  6.3 |  5.9 |  5.7 |  6.4
  Manufacturing................|  2.1 |  2.1 |  2.0 |  2.0 |  1.9 |  1.9 |  2.0 |  2.1 |  2.0
  Trade, transportation,       |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   and utilities(2)............|  2.3 |  2.3 |  2.3 |  3.2 |  3.5 |  3.2 |  3.2 |  3.5 |  3.2
   Retail trade................|  2.4 |  2.3 |  2.4 |  3.9 |  3.9 |  3.7 |  3.9 |  4.0 |  3.7
  Professional and             |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   business services...........|  3.8 |  4.1 |  3.5 |  5.2 |  5.1 |  4.8 |  4.9 |  5.1 |  4.6
  Education and health         |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   services(3).................|  2.9 |  3.1 |  3.3 |  2.4 |  2.5 |  2.4 |  2.0 |  2.3 |  2.1
   Health care and             |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
    social assistance..........|  3.1 |  3.4 |  3.6 |  2.3 |  2.5 |  2.5 |  2.0 |  2.4 |  2.2
  Leisure and hospitality......|  2.9 |  2.9 |  2.8 |  5.5 |  5.5 |  5.1 |  5.4 |  5.3 |  4.9
   Arts, entertainment         |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
    and recreation.............|  2.8 |  2.5 |  2.6 |  7.1 |  5.4 |  5.2 |  7.3 |  4.5 |  5.3
   Accommodation and           |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
    food services..............|  2.9 |  2.9 |  2.8 |  5.2 |  5.5 |  5.1 |  5.0 |  5.5 |  4.9
 Government(4).................|  1.8 |  1.8 |  1.6 |  1.2 |  1.5 |  1.3 |  1.3 |  1.3 |  1.2
  State and local..............|  1.8 |  1.7 |  1.5 |  1.3 |  1.6 |  1.3 |  1.3 |  1.4 |  1.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and other services, not
shown separately.
  2 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown
separately.
  3 Includes educational services, not shown separately.
  4 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
  p Preliminary

Hires

In September, the hires rate was little changed at 3.1 percent. The
hires rate was also little changed in all industries except state and
local government, where it declined. The Midwest region experienced a
decline in hires for September. (See table 2.) The number of hires in
September was 4.2 million, up from 3.7 million at the end of the
recession in June 2009.

Over the 12 months ending in September, the hires rate (not seasonally
adjusted) was little changed for total nonfarm, total private, and
government. The hires rate was little changed in all industries. The
rate decreased in the Midwest and West regions. (See table 8.)
Separations

The total separations figure includes quits, layoffs and discharges,
and other separations. Total separations is also referred to as
turnover. Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the
employee. Therefore, the quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’
willingness or ability to leave jobs. Layoffs and discharges are
involuntary separations initiated by the employer. Other separations
include separations due to retirement, death, and disability, as well
as transfers to other locations of the same firm.

In September, the total separations rate decreased for total nonfarm
and was little changed for total private and government. (See table
3.) Over the year, the total separations rate (not seasonally
adjusted) was essentially unchanged for total nonfarm and total
private but fell for government. (See table 9.)

In September, the quits rate was little changed for total nonfarm,
total private, and government. (See table 4.) The number of quits was
2.0 million in September compared to 1.8 million at the end of the
recession in June 2009.

The number of quits (not seasonally adjusted) was little changed over
the 12 months ending in September for total nonfarm, total private,
and government. Quits decreased over the year in arts, entertainment,
and recreation. Quits levels were essentially unchanged over the year
for all regions. (See table 10.)

The layoffs and discharges component of total separations is
seasonally adjusted at the total nonfarm, total private, and
government levels and for the four regions. The layoffs and discharges
rate was little changed in September for total nonfarm, total private,
government, and all four regions. (See table 5.) The number of layoffs
and discharges for total nonfarm was 1.7 million in September down
from 2.1 million at the end of the recession in June 2009.

The layoffs and discharges level (not seasonally adjusted) was little
changed for total nonfarm and total private, but decreased for
government over the 12 months ending in September 2012. Over the year,
layoffs and discharges declined in arts, entertainment, and recreation
and in state and local government. Layoffs and discharges were
essentially unchanged over the year in all four regions. (See table
11.)

In September, there were 347,000 other separations for total nonfarm,
little changed from the previous month. The number of other
separations was little changed over the year. (See tables 6 and 12.)

Net Change in Employment

Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month throughout
the business cycle. Net employment change results from the
relationship between hires and separations. When the number of hires
exceeds the number of separations, employment rises, even if the hires
level is steady or declining. Conversely, when the number of hires is
less than the number of separations, employment declines, even if the
hires level is steady or rising. Over the 12 months ending in
September 2012, hires totaled 51.6 million and separations totaled
49.8 million, yielding a net employment gain of 1.8 million. These
figures include workers who may have been hired and separated more
than once during the year.

____________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey results for October 2012
are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 10:00
a.m. (EST).


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

  In a monthly survey of business establishments, data are
collected for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs
and discharges, and other separations.  Data collection methods
include computer-assisted telephone interviewing, touchtone data
entry, web, fax, e-mail, 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 2012 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 update, if necessary, the
industry code, location, and ownership classification of all
establishments on a 3-year cycle.  Changes in establishment
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 reference month.  Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-
term, seasonal, salaried, and hourly employees are included, as are
employees on paid vacations 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 contractors, 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 position, 2) work could start within 30 days
regardless of whether a suitable candidate is found, and 3) the
employer is actively recruiting from outside the establishment to
fill the position.  Included are full-time, part-time, permanent,
short-term, and seasonal openings.  Active recruiting 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, outside 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.

  Hires.  Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll
occurring 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 contractors, 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 (except for retirements, which are reported as other
separations).  Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations
initiated by the employer 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 retirements, 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
separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.
The quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations rates are
computed similarly, 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
discharges, 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.  Consistent with BLS practices, annual
estimates are 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
business 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 measures 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.

Special collection procedures

  An implied measure of employment change can be derived from the
JOLTS data by subtracting separations from hires for a given
month.  Aggregating these monthly changes historically produced
employment levels that overstated employment change as measured by
CES at the total nonfarm level.  Research into this problem showed
that a significant amount of the divergence between the CES
employment levels and the derived JOLTS employment levels was
traceable to the Employment Services industry and to the State
Government Education industry.  In the former industry, businesses
have a difficult time reporting hires and separations of temporary
help workers.  In the latter industry, employers have difficulty
reporting hires and separations of student workers.  BLS now
devotes additional resources to the collection, editing, and review
of data for these industries.  BLS analysts more closely examine
reported data that do not provide a consistent picture over time,
and re-contact the respondents as necessary.  Analysts work with
the respondents to adjust their reporting practices as possible.
Units that cannot be reconciled but are clearly incorrect on a
consistent basis are not used, they are replaced by imputed values
using standard techniques.

Sample and estimation methodology

  The JOLTS survey design is a stratified random sample of 16,400
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 9.1 million establishments compiled as part
of the operations of the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
(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 establishment size class. The JOLTS sample is constructed
from individual panels of sample units drawn on an annual basis. The
full annual sample consists of one certainty panel composed of only
large units selected with virtual certainty based on their size and
24 non-certainty panels.  Each month a new non-certainty panel is
rolled into collection, and the oldest non-certainty panel is
rolled out.  This means that at any given time the JOLTS sample is
constructed from panels from three different annual sampling
frames.  The entire sample of old plus new panels is post-
stratified and re-weighted annually to represent the most recent
sampling frame.  Additionally, the out-of-business establishments
are removed from the old panels.  The annual sample is supplemented
with a quarterly sample of birth establishments (i.e., new
establishments) to better reflect the impact of younger
establishments in the JOLTS sample.

  JOLTS total employment estimates are benchmarked or ratio adjusted
monthly to the strike-adjusted employment estimates 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.

  JOLTS business birth/death model

  As with any sample survey, the JOLTS sample can only be as
current as its sampling frame.  The time lag from the birth of an
establishment until its appearance on the sampling frame is
approximately one year.  In addition, many of these new units may
fail within the first year.  Since these universe units cannot be
reflected on the sampling frame immediately, the JOLTS
sample cannot capture job openings, hires, and separations from
these units during their early existence.  BLS has developed a model
to estimate birth/death activity for current months by examining the
birth/death activity from previous years on the QCEW and projecting
forward using the ratio of over-the-year CES employment change. 
The birth/death model also uses historical JOLTS data to estimate the
amount of “churn” (hires and separations) that exists in establishments
of various sizes.  The model then combines the estimated churn with
the projected employment change to estimate the number of hires and
separations taking place in these units that cannot be measured
through sampling.

  The model-based estimate of total separations is distributed to
the three components–-quits; layoffs and discharges; and other
separations--in proportion to their contribution to the sample-
based estimate of total separations.  Additionally, job openings
for the modeled units are estimated by computing the ratio of
openings to hires in the collected data and applying that ratio to
the modeled hires.  The estimates of job openings, hires, and
separations produced by the birth/death model are then added to the
sample-based estimates produced from the survey to arrive at the
estimates for openings, hires, and separations.

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, particularly those associated
with general economic expansions and contractions.  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.

  JOLTS uses moving averages as seasonal filters in seasonal
adjustment.  JOLTS seasonal adjustment 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.

Alignment procedure

  JOLTS hires minus separations should be comparable to the CES net
employment change.  However, definitional differences as well as
sampling and non-sampling errors between the two surveys
historically caused JOLTS to diverge from CES over time. To limit
the divergence, and improve the quality of the JOLTS hires and
separations series, BLS implemented the Monthly Alignment Method.
The Monthly Alignment Method applies the CES employment trends to
the seasonally adjusted JOLTS implied employment trend (hires minus
separations) forcing them to be approximately the same, while
preserving the seasonality of the JOLTS data.  First, the two
series are seasonally adjusted and the difference between the JOLTS
implied employment trend and the CES net employment change is
calculated. Next, the JOLTS implied employment trend is adjusted to
equal the CES net employment change through a proportional
adjustment. This proportional adjustment procedure adjusts the two
components (hires, separations) proportionally to their
contribution to the total churn (hires plus separations).  For
example, if hires are 40 percent of the churn for a given month,
they will receive 40 percent of the needed adjustment and
separations will receive 60 percent of the needed adjustment. The
adjusted hires and separations are converted back to not seasonally
adjusted data by reversing the application of the original seasonal
factors.  After the Monthly Alignment Method has been used to
adjust the level estimates, rate estimates are computed from the
adjusted levels.  The monthly alignment procedure assures a close
match of the JOLTS implied employment trend with the CES trend. The
CES series is considered a highly accurate measure of net
employment change owing to its very large sample size and annual
benchmarking to universe counts of employment from the QCEW
program.

Historical changes in JOLTS data

  The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and separations are
relatively new.  The full sample is divided into panels, with one
panel enrolled 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 supplemental 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 comparable to estimates for March 2002 and
later.

  The federal government reorganization that involved transferring
approximately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland
Security is not reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations
estimates for the federal government.  The Office of Personnel
Management's record shows these transfers were completed in March
2003.  The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires
and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of workers
between establishments.  The Department of Homeland Security
reorganization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of
these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal government
time 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 segment 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.

Other information

  Information in this release will be made available to sensory
impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone: (202) 691-5200;
Federal Relay Service: (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              Sept.  Apr.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Sept. Apr.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept.
                                            2011   2012   2012   2012   2012   2012   2012p  2011  2012  2012  2012  2012  2012  2012p

Total....................................  3,501  3,447  3,657  3,722  3,593  3,661  3,561    2.6   2.5   2.7   2.7   2.6   2.7   2.6

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)........................  3,100  3,093  3,285  3,346  3,211  3,257  3,192    2.7   2.7   2.9   2.9   2.8   2.8   2.8
  Construction...........................     78     69     69     68     67     81     77    1.4   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.4   1.4
  Manufacturing..........................    249    259    297    296    273    257    238    2.1   2.1   2.4   2.4   2.2   2.1   2.0
  Trade, transportation, and utilities(5)    599    562    591    588    585    592    597    2.3   2.2   2.3   2.3   2.3   2.3   2.3
   Retail trade..........................    359    338    348    348    334    350    358    2.4   2.2   2.3   2.3   2.2   2.3   2.4
  Professional and business services.....    692    660    718    693    641    761    651    3.8   3.6   3.9   3.7   3.5   4.1   3.5
  Education and health services(6).......    600    665    687    713    689    661    697    2.9   3.2   3.3   3.4   3.3   3.1   3.3
   Health care and social assistance.....    530    610    629    660    604    601    632    3.1   3.5   3.6   3.7   3.4   3.4   3.6
  Leisure and hospitality................    392    419    432    460    469    405    389    2.9   3.0   3.1   3.3   3.3   2.9   2.8
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation...     56     61     52     47     50     50     51    2.8   3.1   2.6   2.4   2.5   2.5   2.6
   Accommodation and food services.......    336    358    381    413    419    355    339    2.9   3.0   3.2   3.4   3.5   2.9   2.8
 Government(7)...........................    400    354    372    376    382    404    368    1.8   1.6   1.7   1.7   1.7   1.8   1.6
  State and local........................    345    282    302    304    329    327    299    1.8   1.5   1.6   1.6   1.7   1.7   1.5


                 REGION(8)

  Northeast..............................    606    679    675    664    671    681    664    2.4   2.6   2.6   2.6   2.6   2.6   2.5
  South..................................  1,335  1,370  1,474  1,490  1,399  1,431  1,300    2.7   2.8   3.0   3.0   2.8   2.9   2.6
  Midwest................................    736    666    755    777    759    790    859    2.4   2.2   2.4   2.5   2.4   2.5   2.8
  West...................................    824    732    754    792    763    758    738    2.8   2.5   2.5   2.6   2.5   2.5   2.5


  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 and because not all series are shown.
  4 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.
  6 Includes educational services, 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              Sept.  Apr.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Sept. Apr.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept.
                                            2011   2012   2012   2012   2012   2012   2012p  2011  2012  2012  2012  2012  2012  2012p

Total....................................  4,276  4,213  4,461  4,284  4,278  4,440  4,185    3.2   3.2   3.4   3.2   3.2   3.3   3.1

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)........................  4,002  3,916  4,176  4,000  3,989  4,109  3,908    3.6   3.5   3.8   3.6   3.6   3.7   3.5
  Construction...........................    360    276    314    355    359    323    346    6.5   5.0   5.7   6.4   6.5   5.9   6.3
  Manufacturing..........................    240    260    262    270    244    230    226    2.0   2.2   2.2   2.3   2.0   1.9   1.9
  Trade, transportation, and utilities(5)    810    826    872    821    848    892    824    3.2   3.3   3.4   3.2   3.3   3.5   3.2
   Retail trade..........................    567    556    577    556    570    577    548    3.9   3.8   3.9   3.8   3.9   3.9   3.7
  Professional and business services.....    911    888    982    931    871    915    863    5.2   5.0   5.5   5.2   4.9   5.1   4.8
  Education and health services(6).......    486    495    540    494    500    502    497    2.4   2.4   2.7   2.4   2.5   2.5   2.4
   Health care and social assistance.....    391    427    466    425    427    430    419    2.3   2.5   2.7   2.5   2.5   2.5   2.5
  Leisure and hospitality................    736    717    715    700    720    747    695    5.5   5.3   5.3   5.1   5.3   5.5   5.1
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation...    135    123    115    108    106    104    101    7.1   6.4   6.0   5.7   5.5   5.4   5.2
   Accommodation and food services.......    600    594    600    592    614    643    594    5.2   5.1   5.1   5.1   5.2   5.5   5.1
 Government(7)...........................    275    297    285    284    288    332    277    1.2   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.5   1.3
  State and local........................    248    263    254    256    268    300    243    1.3   1.4   1.3   1.3   1.4   1.6   1.3


                 REGION(8)

  Northeast..............................    664    673    696    701    675    676    732    2.6   2.7   2.7   2.8   2.7   2.7   2.9
  South..................................  1,626  1,676  1,781  1,691  1,674  1,758  1,717    3.4   3.5   3.7   3.5   3.5   3.6   3.5
  Midwest................................    996    938  1,030    985    993  1,056    894    3.3   3.1   3.4   3.3   3.3   3.5   2.9
  West...................................    990    925    953    908    935    951    842    3.4   3.2   3.3   3.1   3.2   3.3   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 and because not all series are shown.
  4 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.
  6 Includes educational services, 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              Sept.  Apr.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Sept. Apr.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept.
                                            2011   2012   2012   2012   2012   2012   2012p  2011  2012  2012  2012  2012  2012  2012p

Total....................................  4,089  4,142  4,463  4,249  4,088  4,355  4,024    3.1   3.1   3.4   3.2   3.1   3.3   3.0

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)........................  3,808  3,838  4,163  3,943  3,789  4,062  3,766    3.5   3.5   3.7   3.5   3.4   3.6   3.4
  Construction...........................    324    290    359    342    358    316    354    5.9   5.2   6.5   6.2   6.5   5.7   6.4
  Manufacturing..........................    236    239    248    263    228    250    239    2.0   2.0   2.1   2.2   1.9   2.1   2.0
  Trade, transportation, and utilities(5)    811    817    835    827    815    883    806    3.2   3.2   3.3   3.3   3.2   3.5   3.2
   Retail trade..........................    567    560    586    558    556    587    552    3.9   3.8   4.0   3.8   3.8   4.0   3.7
  Professional and business services.....    857    855  1,035    921    807    911    832    4.9   4.8   5.8   5.1   4.5   5.1   4.6
  Education and health services(6).......    409    470    479    493    463    474    434    2.0   2.3   2.4   2.4   2.3   2.3   2.1
   Health care and social assistance.....    342    408    414    409    396    404    371    2.0   2.4   2.4   2.4   2.3   2.4   2.2
  Leisure and hospitality................    716    710    712    679    685    730    673    5.4   5.2   5.2   5.0   5.0   5.3   4.9
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation...    140    133    135    101    105     88    103    7.3   6.9   7.0   5.3   5.5   4.5   5.3
   Accommodation and food services.......    576    577    577    578    579    642    570    5.0   4.9   4.9   4.9   4.9   5.5   4.9
 Government(7)...........................    281    304    300    306    299    292    258    1.3   1.4   1.4   1.4   1.4   1.3   1.2
  State and local........................    250    271    270    276    271    262    228    1.3   1.4   1.4   1.4   1.4   1.4   1.2


                 REGION(8)

  Northeast..............................    660    697    690    668    711    671    677    2.6   2.8   2.7   2.6   2.8   2.6   2.7
  South..................................  1,607  1,556  1,772  1,690  1,579  1,696  1,644    3.4   3.2   3.7   3.5   3.3   3.5   3.4
  Midwest................................    897    971  1,038    912    894  1,056    873    3.0   3.2   3.4   3.0   3.0   3.5   2.9
  West...................................    925    918    963    979    905    931    829    3.2   3.1   3.3   3.4   3.1   3.2   2.8


  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 and because not all series are shown.
  4 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.
  6 Includes educational services, 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              Sept.  Apr.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Sept. Apr.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept.
                                            2011   2012   2012   2012   2012   2012   2012p  2011  2012  2012  2012  2012  2012  2012p

Total....................................  2,015  2,114  2,176  2,133  2,163  2,151  1,976    1.5   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.5

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)........................  1,902  1,969  2,041  1,998  2,033  2,025  1,861    1.7   1.8   1.8   1.8   1.8   1.8   1.7
  Construction...........................     80     70     79     86     87     75     66    1.4   1.3   1.4   1.6   1.6   1.4   1.2
  Manufacturing..........................     99    114    117    108    107    113    112     .8   1.0   1.0    .9    .9    .9    .9
  Trade, transportation, and utilities(5)    456    455    440    465    482    471    443    1.8   1.8   1.7   1.8   1.9   1.9   1.7
   Retail trade..........................    336    332    318    330    340    337    330    2.3   2.3   2.2   2.2   2.3   2.3   2.2
  Professional and business services.....    395    396    439    400    386    386    379    2.3   2.2   2.5   2.2   2.2   2.2   2.1
  Education and health services(6).......    244    266    269    269    279    277    244    1.2   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.4   1.4   1.2
   Health care and social assistance.....    215    238    239    229    248    234    209    1.3   1.4   1.4   1.3   1.5   1.4   1.2
  Leisure and hospitality................    403    445    448    440    432    430    402    3.0   3.3   3.3   3.2   3.2   3.2   2.9
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation...     45     47     52     49     47     44     35    2.4   2.5   2.7   2.6   2.5   2.3   1.8
   Accommodation and food services.......    358    398    396    391    385    386    367    3.1   3.4   3.4   3.3   3.3   3.3   3.1
 Government(7)...........................    114    145    136    135    130    125    115     .5    .7    .6    .6    .6    .6    .5
  State and local........................    104    132    124    126    119    115    106     .5    .7    .6    .7    .6    .6    .6


                 REGION(8)

  Northeast..............................    281    309    305    300    315    325    297    1.1   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.3   1.2
  South..................................    877    855    899    925    945    906    870    1.8   1.8   1.9   1.9   2.0   1.9   1.8
  Midwest................................    425    495    521    474    449    488    428    1.4   1.6   1.7   1.6   1.5   1.6   1.4
  West...................................    433    456    452    434    454    432    381    1.5   1.6   1.6   1.5   1.6   1.5   1.3


  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 and because not all series are shown.
  4 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.
  6 Includes educational services, not shown separately.
  7 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
  8 See footnote 8, table 1.
  p Preliminary



Table 5.  Layoffs and discharges levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region              Sept.  Apr.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Sept. Apr.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept.
                                            2011   2012   2012   2012   2012   2012   2012p  2011  2012  2012  2012  2012  2012  2012p

Total....................................  1,765  1,743  1,956  1,761  1,582  1,848  1,701    1.3   1.3   1.5   1.3   1.2   1.4   1.3

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)........................  1,649  1,644  1,852  1,655  1,482  1,745  1,615    1.5   1.5   1.7   1.5   1.3   1.6   1.4
  Construction...........................     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
  Manufacturing..........................     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
  Trade, transportation, and utilities(5)     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
   Retail trade..........................     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
  Professional and business services.....     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
  Education and health services(6).......     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
   Health care and social assistance.....     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
  Leisure and hospitality................     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation...     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
   Accommodation and food services.......     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
 Government(7)...........................    116     98    104    106    100    103     86     .5    .4    .5    .5    .5    .5    .4
  State and local........................     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -


                 REGION(8)

  Northeast..............................    323    334    331    298    323    269    307    1.3   1.3   1.3   1.2   1.3   1.1   1.2
  South..................................    628    614    761    633    522    686    660    1.3   1.3   1.6   1.3   1.1   1.4   1.4
  Midwest................................    393    406    443    366    365    467    352    1.3   1.3   1.5   1.2   1.2   1.5   1.2
  West...................................    420    388    421    464    372    426    381    1.5   1.3   1.4   1.6   1.3   1.5   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 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series and because not all series are shown.
  4 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.
  6 Includes educational services, not shown separately.
  7 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
  8 See footnote 8, table 1.
  p Preliminary
  - Data not available.


Table 6.  Other separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region              Sept.  Apr.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Sept. Apr.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept.
                                            2011   2012   2012   2012   2012   2012   2012p  2011  2012  2012  2012  2012  2012  2012p

Total....................................    309    285    331    355    343    356    347    0.2   0.2   0.2   0.3   0.3   0.3   0.3

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)........................    257    224    270    290    274    292    290     .2    .2    .2    .3    .2    .3    .3
  Construction...........................     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
  Manufacturing..........................     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
  Trade, transportation, and utilities(5)     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
   Retail trade..........................     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
  Professional and business services.....     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
  Education and health services(6).......     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
   Health care and social assistance.....     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
  Leisure and hospitality................     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation...     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
   Accommodation and food services.......     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
 Government(7)...........................     52     61     61     65     69     64     57     .2    .3    .3    .3    .3    .3    .3
  State and local........................     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -


                 REGION(8)

  Northeast..............................     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
  South..................................     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
  Midwest................................     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -
  West...................................     -      -      -      -      -      -      -       -     -     -     -     -     -     -


  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 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series and because not all series are shown.
  4 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.
  6 Includes educational services, not shown separately.
  7 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
  8 See footnote 8, table 1.
  p Preliminary
  - Data not available.


Table 7.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Sept.    Aug      Sept.         Sept.    Aug      Sept.
                                                   2011     2012     2012p         2011     2012     2012p

Total...........................................  3,546    3,753    3,602           2.6      2.7      2.6

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,156    3,301    3,248           2.8      2.9      2.8
  Mining and logging............................     32       16       14           3.8      1.9      1.7
  Construction..................................     85       90       83           1.5      1.5      1.4
  Manufacturing.................................    260      264      245           2.1      2.1      2.0
   Durable goods................................    180      160      135           2.4      2.1      1.8
   Nondurable goods.............................     80      104      110           1.7      2.2      2.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    665      631      672           2.6      2.4      2.6
   Wholesale trade..............................    135      140      121           2.4      2.4      2.1
   Retail trade.................................    423      380      428           2.8      2.5      2.8
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    107      110      122           2.1      2.2      2.4
  Information...................................    118      117      104           4.3      4.2      3.8
  Financial activities..........................    186      265      290           2.4      3.3      3.6
   Finance and insurance........................    151      208      226           2.6      3.5      3.8
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     35       58       64           1.8      2.8      3.1
  Professional and business services............    700      756      652           3.8      4.0      3.5
  Education and health services.................    578      647      675           2.8      3.1      3.2
   Educational services.........................     61       65       57           1.9      2.1      1.7
   Health care and social assistance............    517      582      618           3.0      3.3      3.5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    407      431      392           2.9      2.9      2.8
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     52       53       48           2.6      2.4      2.3
   Accommodation and food services..............    354      378      345           3.0      3.0      2.8
  Other services................................    125       84      119           2.3      1.5      2.2

 Government.....................................    390      452      354           1.8      2.1      1.6
  Federal.......................................     53       90       66           1.8      3.1      2.3
  State and local...............................    337      363      289           1.7      2.0      1.5

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    602      718      663           2.3      2.8      2.5
  South.........................................  1,367    1,441    1,299           2.8      2.9      2.6
  Midwest.......................................    750      834      904           2.4      2.7      2.9
  West..........................................    828      760      736           2.8      2.5      2.4


  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 8.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Sept.    Aug      Sept.         Sept.    Aug      Sept.
                                                   2011     2012     2012p         2011     2012     2012p

Total...........................................  4,507    4,962    4,357           3.4      3.7      3.3

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  4,130    4,376    3,991           3.8      3.9      3.6
  Mining and logging............................     28       32       24           3.4      3.8      2.9
  Construction..................................    346      312      342           6.0      5.4      5.9
  Manufacturing.................................    241      252      220           2.0      2.1      1.8
   Durable goods................................    131      146      129           1.8      1.9      1.7
   Nondurable goods.............................    110      105       91           2.4      2.3      2.0
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    881      944      880           3.5      3.7      3.5
   Wholesale trade..............................    127      153      124           2.3      2.7      2.2
   Retail trade.................................    621      615      593           4.3      4.2      4.0
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    133      176      164           2.7      3.6      3.3
  Information...................................     59       77       61           2.2      2.9      2.3
  Financial activities..........................    143      212      176           1.9      2.7      2.3
   Finance and insurance........................     93      142      110           1.6      2.4      1.9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     50       71       65           2.6      3.5      3.3
  Professional and business services............    877      929      818           5.0      5.1      4.5
  Education and health services.................    582      631      585           2.9      3.2      2.9
   Educational services.........................    159      117      140           5.0      3.9      4.3
   Health care and social assistance............    423      515      445           2.5      3.0      2.6
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    755      813      701           5.6      5.7      5.1
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    130       92       93           6.5      4.2      4.7
   Accommodation and food services..............    625      721      607           5.4      6.0      5.1
  Other services................................    218      173      183           4.1      3.2      3.4

 Government.....................................    377      586      366           1.7      2.8      1.7
  Federal.......................................     28       37       37           1.0      1.3      1.3
  State and local...............................    348      549      329           1.8      3.0      1.7

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    746      678      831           3.0      2.7      3.3
  South.........................................  1,657    2,041    1,734           3.5      4.2      3.6
  Midwest.......................................  1,044    1,176      907           3.5      3.9      3.0
  West..........................................  1,060    1,067      885           3.7      3.6      3.0


  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 9.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Sept.    Aug      Sept.         Sept.    Aug      Sept.
                                                   2011     2012     2012p         2011     2012     2012p

Total...........................................  4,395    5,142    4,279           3.3      3.9      3.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  4,051    4,694    3,963           3.7      4.2      3.5
  Mining and logging............................     25       34       26           3.1      4.0      3.1
  Construction..................................    327      326      360           5.7      5.6      6.2
  Manufacturing.................................    239      303      240           2.0      2.5      2.0
   Durable goods................................    132      190      150           1.8      2.5      2.0
   Nondurable goods.............................    107      112       90           2.4      2.5      2.0
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    825      984      827           3.3      3.9      3.3
   Wholesale trade..............................    122      141      122           2.2      2.5      2.2
   Retail trade.................................    574      674      564           3.9      4.6      3.8
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    129      169      141           2.6      3.4      2.8
  Information...................................     64       74       62           2.4      2.8      2.4
  Financial activities..........................    151      228      174           2.0      2.9      2.2
   Finance and insurance........................     97      143      113           1.7      2.5      2.0
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     54       85       60           2.8      4.3      3.1
  Professional and business services............    815      970      782           4.7      5.4      4.3
  Education and health services.................    433      600      450           2.2      3.0      2.2
   Educational services.........................     71      107       69           2.2      3.6      2.1
   Health care and social assistance............    362      492      381           2.2      2.9      2.2
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    933      913      853           6.9      6.4      6.2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    257      132      187          12.9      6.0      9.4
   Accommodation and food services..............    676      781      666           5.8      6.5      5.6
  Other services................................    239      263      190           4.5      4.9      3.5

 Government.....................................    344      448      316           1.6      2.1      1.4
  Federal.......................................     40       43       41           1.4      1.5      1.4
  State and local...............................    304      405      275           1.6      2.2      1.4

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    790      814      813           3.1      3.2      3.2
  South.........................................  1,586    2,019    1,631           3.3      4.2      3.4
  Midwest.......................................  1,003    1,257      939           3.3      4.2      3.1
  West..........................................  1,016    1,052      896           3.5      3.6      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


Table 10.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Sept.    Aug      Sept.         Sept.    Aug      Sept.
                                                   2011     2012     2012p         2011     2012     2012p

Total...........................................  2,210    2,814    2,150           1.7      2.1      1.6

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,085    2,612    2,020           1.9      2.3      1.8
  Mining and logging............................     16       20       17           2.0      2.4      2.0
  Construction..................................     88       99       71           1.5      1.7      1.2
  Manufacturing.................................    105      159      117            .9      1.3      1.0
   Durable goods................................     50       93       64            .7      1.2       .9
   Nondurable goods.............................     55       66       53           1.2      1.4      1.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    504      602      493           2.0      2.4      1.9
   Wholesale trade..............................     67       72       63           1.2      1.3      1.1
   Retail trade.................................    373      437      369           2.6      3.0      2.5
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     64       92       61           1.3      1.9      1.2
  Information...................................     39       45       40           1.5      1.7      1.5
  Financial activities..........................     75      128       91           1.0      1.6      1.2
   Finance and insurance........................     49       86       54            .8      1.5       .9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     27       42       36           1.4      2.1      1.8
  Professional and business services............    393      475      374           2.2      2.6      2.1
  Education and health services.................    271      359      267           1.4      1.8      1.3
   Educational services.........................     37       67       45           1.2      2.2      1.4
   Health care and social assistance............    235      292      222           1.4      1.7      1.3
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    490      579      474           3.6      4.0      3.4
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     73       81       55           3.7      3.7      2.7
   Accommodation and food services..............    417      497      420           3.6      4.1      3.5
  Other services................................    104      146       76           2.0      2.7      1.4

 Government.....................................    125      201      131            .6      1.0       .6
  Federal.......................................     11       15       10            .4       .5       .4
  State and local...............................    114      186      120            .6      1.0       .6

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    339      432      366           1.4      1.7      1.4
  South.........................................    905    1,151      904           1.9      2.4      1.9
  Midwest.......................................    477      680      460           1.6      2.2      1.5
  West..........................................    489      550      420           1.7      1.9      1.4


  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 11.  Layoffs and discharges levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Sept.    Aug      Sept.         Sept.    Aug      Sept.
                                                   2011     2012     2012p         2011     2012     2012p

Total...........................................  1,886    1,954    1,789           1.4      1.5      1.3

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,718    1,781    1,658           1.6      1.6      1.5
  Mining and logging............................      7       12        7            .9      1.4       .9
  Construction..................................    223      211      280           3.9      3.6      4.9
  Manufacturing.................................    116      120      103           1.0      1.0       .9
   Durable goods................................     69       81       72            .9      1.1      1.0
   Nondurable goods.............................     47       39       31           1.0       .9       .7
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    253      308      257           1.0      1.2      1.0
   Wholesale trade..............................     46       57       53            .8      1.0       .9
   Retail trade.................................    165      188      136           1.1      1.3       .9
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     42       63       68            .9      1.3      1.4
  Information...................................     20       25       14            .8       .9       .5
  Financial activities..........................     60       69       33            .8       .9       .4
   Finance and insurance........................     39       41       19            .7       .7       .3
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     22       28       14           1.1      1.4       .7
  Professional and business services............    371      453      368           2.1      2.5      2.0
  Education and health services.................    133      184      142            .7       .9       .7
   Educational services.........................     29       34       19            .9      1.1       .6
   Health care and social assistance............    104      150      123            .6       .9       .7
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    411      299      345           3.0      2.1      2.5
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    182       48      129           9.1      2.2      6.5
   Accommodation and food services..............    230      251      216           2.0      2.1      1.8
  Other services................................    123      101      108           2.3      1.9      2.0

 Government.....................................    168      173      131            .8       .8       .6
  Federal.......................................     20       20       20            .7       .7       .7
  State and local...............................    149      153      111            .8       .8       .6

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    393      307      371           1.6      1.2      1.5
  South.........................................    589      762      623           1.2      1.6      1.3
  Midwest.......................................    451      450      386           1.5      1.5      1.3
  West..........................................    453      436      408           1.6      1.5      1.4


  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 12.  Other separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Sept.    Aug      Sept.         Sept.    Aug      Sept.
                                                   2011     2012     2012p         2011     2012     2012p

Total...........................................    299      374      340           0.2      0.3      0.3

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    248      301      286            .2       .3       .3
  Mining and logging............................      1        1        2            .2       .2       .2
  Construction..................................     16       16        9            .3       .3       .2
  Manufacturing.................................     19       24       20            .2       .2       .2
   Durable goods................................     14       16       14            .2       .2       .2
   Nondurable goods.............................      5        8        6            .1       .2       .1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     68       75       77            .3       .3       .3
   Wholesale trade..............................     10       12        6            .2       .2       .1
   Retail trade.................................     36       49       60            .2       .3       .4
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     22       14       12            .5       .3       .2
  Information...................................      5        3        8            .2       .1       .3
  Financial activities..........................     16       31       50            .2       .4       .6
   Finance and insurance........................     10       17       40            .2       .3       .7
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      6       15       10            .3       .7       .5
  Professional and business services............     51       42       40            .3       .2       .2
  Education and health services.................     28       57       41            .1       .3       .2
   Educational services.........................      5        6        5            .1       .2       .2
   Health care and social assistance............     24       51       36            .1       .3       .2
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     32       35       34            .2       .2       .2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      3        3        4            .1       .1       .2
   Accommodation and food services..............     29       32       30            .3       .3       .3
  Other services................................     12       17        5            .2       .3       .1

 Government.....................................     51       73       54            .2       .4       .2
  Federal.......................................      9        8       10            .3       .3       .4
  State and local...............................     42       65       43            .2       .4       .2

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................     57       75       75            .2       .3       .3
  South.........................................     94      106      105            .2       .2       .2
  Midwest.......................................     74      127       91            .2       .4       .3
  West..........................................     74       67       68            .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.
  p Preliminary


Last Modified Date: November 06, 2012