Hires exceed separations again
July 08, 2004
There were 4.2 million hires and 4.0 million separations in the United States in May 2004. The number of hires outpaced the number of separations for the 13th straight month.
[Chart data—TXT]
There were both fewer hires and fewer separations in May than in April. The number of hires in April was 4.4 million, and the number of separations was 4.1 million.
The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by employment) decreased from 3.4 percent in April to 3.2 percent in May. Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month.
The total separations, or turnover, rate (the number of separations during the month divided by employment) was 3.1 percent in May and has remained in the range of 2.9 percent to 3.3 percent since December 2001. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month.
These data come from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. The above data are seasonally adjusted. Data for May 2004 are preliminary and subject to revision. Find additional information in "Job Openings and Labor Turnover: May 2004" (PDF) (TXT), USDL 04-1199.
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United States Department of Labor
