1
Technical information:
(202) 691-5870
http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
Media contact:
USDL 05-055
For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
691-5902
JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: NOVEMBER 2004
The job openings rate edged down in November, while the hires rate increased and the total separations
rate remained unchanged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.
The job openings rate decreased slightly to 2.4 percent. The hires rate increased to 3.6 percent; the total
separations rate was unchanged at 3.1 percent. 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.
Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,
Percent
December 2000 - November 2004
Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,
Percent
December 2000 - November 2004
4.0
4.0
3.8
3.8
3.6
3.6
3.4
3.4
3.2
3.2
3.0
3.0
2.8
2.8
2.6
2.6
2.4
2.4
2.2
2.2
2.0
2.0
Hires
1.8
Separations
1.8
2001
2002
2003
2004
2001
2002
2003
2004
Job Openings
On the last business day of November 2004, there were 3.2 million job openings in the United States,
and the job openings rate was 2.4 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate edged down in November,
although it has followed a generally upward trend since August 2003. In November, the job openings rate
decreased in government; manufacturing; and trade, transportation, and utilities. The job openings rate was
down in the Northeast and South regions.
Hires and Separations
The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by employment) was 3.6 percent in November, a slight increase from a month earlier. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to the payroll during the
month. The hires rate increased in the manufacturing; trade, transportation, and utilities; and education and
health services industries over the month. The hires rate rose in the Midwest region.
The total separations, or turnover, rate (the total number of separations during the month divided by employment) was 3.1 percent in November. The overall total separations rate is 0.2 percentage point higher
than its most recent low in November 2003. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any
2
Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted
Job openings
Industry
1
Total ............................................................
Total private 1........................................
Construction ...................................
Manufacturing ................................
Trade, transportation, and
utilities ...........................................
Professional and business
services .........................................
Education and health services ....
Leisure and hospitality .................
Government ..........................................
Nov.
2003
Oct.
2004
Hires
Oct.
2004
Nov.
2004p
Nov.
2003
Levels (in thousands)
4,135
4,469
4,821
3,843
4,149
4,521
397
361
388
345
333
389
2,952
2,593
89
221
3,420
3,042
114
263
3,204
2,867
108
236
513
630
551
875
976
499
551
364
358
614
550
405
403
595
540
385
335
613
436
776
302
783
411
769
321
Nov.
2004p
Total separations
Nov.
Nov.
Oct.
2004
2004p
2003
3,797
3,543
372
330
4,129
3,877
423
338
4,098
3,843
358
307
1,088
856
922
930
843
453
805
310
542
372
678
259
580
373
747
260
721
403
732
255
Rates (percent)
Total 1.........................................................
Total private 1.......................................
Construction ...................................
Manufacturing ................................
Trade, transportation, and
utilities ...........................................
Professional and business
services .........................................
Education and health services ....
Leisure and hospitality .................
Government ..........................................
1
2.2
2.3
1.3
1.5
2.5
2.7
1.6
1.8
2.4
2.5
1.5
1.6
3.2
3.5
5.9
2.4
3.4
3.8
5.1
2.3
3.6
4.1
5.5
2.7
2.9
3.3
5.5
2.3
3.1
3.5
6.0
2.3
3.1
3.5
5.1
2.1
2.0
2.4
2.1
3.5
3.8
4.3
3.4
3.6
3.6
3.0
3.2
2.9
1.6
3.6
3.1
3.2
1.8
3.4
3.1
3.0
1.5
3.8
2.6
6.4
1.4
4.7
2.4
6.2
1.5
5.1
2.7
6.5
1.4
3.4
2.2
5.6
1.2
3.5
2.2
6.0
1.2
4.3
2.4
5.9
1.2
Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.
time during the month. (See table 3.) The total separations rate increased in professional and business services in November.
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, was essentially unchanged at 1.8 percent in November, after holding steady at 1.7
percent from February through October 2004. (See table 4.) The quits rate increased in professional and
business services and edged down in government in November. The other two components of total separations, layoffs and discharges (1.2 percent) and other separations (0.2 percent), are not seasonally adjusted.
Both rates showed little change from a year earlier.
Hires and separations help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the last 12 months, hires
have averaged 4.3 million per month and separations have averaged 4.1 million per month. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.)
3
For More Information
For additional information, please see the Technical Note or the JOLTS Web site at www.bls.gov/jlt/.
Additional information about JOLTS also may be obtained by e-mailing [email protected] or by calling
(202) 691-5870.
______________________________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for December 2004 is scheduled to be issued on
Wednesday, February 9, 2005.
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 2002 version of the North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to
ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Employment
Security 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.
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 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. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.
Using 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 with 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.
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.
Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the
JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than
is customary. The historical data, therefore, may be subject to
larger than normal revisions. Since the seasonal patterns in
economic data series typically emerge over time, the standard
use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these
effects requires longer series than are currently available. As
a result, the stable seasonal filter option is used in the seasonal
adjustment of the JOLTS data. When calculating seasonal
factors, this filter takes an average for each calendar month
after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes
that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption
until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal
filter is no longer needed, other program features also may be
introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended
diagnostic testing. Additionally, it is expected that more series,
such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may
be seasonally adjusted when more data are available.
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.
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,
especially 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. Additionally, 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.
1
2
Table 1. Job openings levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels3 (in thousands)
Industry and region
Nov.
June
July
Aug.
2003
2004
2004
Total 4……………………………………………… 2,952
3,022
Rates
Oct.
2004
Nov.
Nov.
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
2004
Sept.
2004
2004p
2003
2004
2004
2004
2004
Oct.
2004
2004p
3,237
3,195
3,294
3,420
3,204
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.5
2.4
2,640
94
247
503
494
496
421
380
2,894
88
240
567
583
537
435
343
2,859
121
234
551
594
536
410
337
2,934
113
251
591
564
543
425
350
3,042
114
263
630
614
550
405
403
2,867
108
236
551
595
540
385
335
2.3
1.3
1.5
2.0
3.0
3.2
2.9
1.6
2.3
1.3
1.7
1.9
2.9
2.9
3.3
1.7
2.6
1.3
1.6
2.2
3.4
3.1
3.4
1.6
2.5
1.7
1.6
2.1
3.5
3.1
3.2
1.5
2.6
1.6
1.7
2.3
3.3
3.1
3.3
1.6
2.7
1.6
1.8
2.4
3.6
3.1
3.2
1.8
2.5
1.5
1.6
2.1
3.4
3.1
3.0
1.5
546
1,164
631
677
545
1,280
635
738
540
1,259
613
771
562
1,245
699
790
606
1,385
711
756
523
1,214
713
750
2.1
2.5
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.4
2.0
2.3
2.1
2.7
2.0
2.5
2.1
2.6
1.9
2.6
2.2
2.6
2.2
2.7
2.3
2.9
2.2
2.6
2.0
2.5
2.2
2.5
Nov.
INDUSTRY
Total private4…………………………………… 2,593
89
Manufacturing………………………………… 221
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 513
Professional and business services………
499
Education and health services……………… 551
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
364
Government……………………………………… 358
Construction…………………………………
REGION
Northeast……………………………………… 526
South………………………………………… 1,154
Midwest………………………………………
West……………………………………………
1
655
621
Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day
the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
of the month.
2
The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and
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
Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi,
seasonal adjustment of the various series.
4
Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities,
and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan,
and other services, not shown separately.
P
= preliminary.
and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii,
Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia,
North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota,
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington,
NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise
and Wyoming.
Table 2. Hires levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
3
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region
Nov.
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Rates
Nov.
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
2004
2003
2004
2004
2004
2004
Oct.
2004
2004p
2003
2004
2004
2004
2004
Oct.
2004
Nov.
Total 4……………………………………………… 4,135
4,433
4,229
4,375
4,253
4,469
4,821
3.2
3.4
3.2
3.3
3.2
3.4
3.6
4,110
436
370
945
692
428
749
328
3,930
368
352
957
621
418
760
310
4,058
401
356
984
690
470
760
322
3,906
383
379
864
689
401
782
337
4,149
361
333
976
783
411
769
321
4,521
388
389
1,088
843
453
805
310
3.5
5.9
2.4
3.5
3.8
2.6
6.4
1.4
3.7
6.3
2.6
3.7
4.2
2.5
6.1
1.5
3.6
5.3
2.4
3.8
3.8
2.5
6.2
1.4
3.7
5.8
2.5
3.9
4.2
2.8
6.1
1.5
3.6
5.5
2.6
3.4
4.2
2.4
6.3
1.6
3.8
5.1
2.3
3.8
4.7
2.4
6.2
1.5
4.1
5.5
2.7
4.3
5.1
2.7
6.5
1.4
703
1,709
1,009
1,023
720
1,640
935
865
763
1,643
945
1,018
745
1,635
942
942
755
1,694
1,054
928
812
1,809
1,149
994
2.9
3.3
3.0
3.3
2.8
3.7
3.2
3.6
2.9
3.5
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.5
3.0
3.5
2.9
3.5
3.0
3.3
3.0
3.6
3.4
3.2
3.2
3.9
3.7
3.5
p
Nov.
INDUSTRY
4
Total private …………………………………… 3,843
397
Manufacturing………………………………… 345
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 875
Professional and business services………
613
Education and health services……………… 436
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
776
Government……………………………………… 302
Construction…………………………………
REGION
Northeast……………………………………… 717
South………………………………………… 1,508
Midwest………………………………………
West……………………………………………
925
924
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.
P
= preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
1
2
Table 3. Total separations levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels3 (in thousands)
Industry and region
Nov.
June
July
Aug.
2003
2004
2004
Total 4……………………………………………… 3,797
4,069
Rates
Oct.
2004
Nov.
Nov.
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
2004
Sept.
2004
2004p
2003
2004
2004
2004
2004
Oct.
2004
2004p
4,074
4,134
4,158
4,129
4,098
2.9
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.2
3.1
3.1
3,789
382
343
927
607
362
734
270
3,793
364
367
972
613
363
694
273
3,894
391
379
951
575
380
760
246
3,856
350
381
909
590
384
756
306
3,877
423
338
922
580
373
747
260
3,843
358
307
930
721
403
732
255
3.3
5.5
2.3
3.4
3.4
2.2
5.6
1.2
3.5
5.5
2.4
3.6
3.7
2.1
5.9
1.3
3.5
5.3
2.5
3.8
3.7
2.1
5.6
1.3
3.5
5.6
2.6
3.7
3.5
2.2
6.2
1.1
3.5
5.0
2.6
3.6
3.6
2.3
6.1
1.4
3.5
6.0
2.3
3.6
3.5
2.2
6.0
1.2
3.5
5.1
2.1
3.6
4.3
2.4
5.9
1.2
704
1,533
853
979
674
1,545
935
945
717
1,527
831
1,087
730
1,506
931
978
670
1,568
948
914
716
1,549
1,028
800
2.5
3.1
2.9
3.0
2.8
3.3
2.7
3.4
2.7
3.3
3.0
3.3
2.8
3.3
2.7
3.8
2.9
3.2
3.0
3.4
2.6
3.4
3.0
3.2
2.8
3.3
3.3
2.8
Nov.
INDUSTRY
Total private4…………………………………… 3,543
372
Manufacturing………………………………… 330
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 856
Professional and business services………
542
Education and health services……………… 372
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
678
Government……………………………………… 259
Construction…………………………………
REGION
Northeast……………………………………… 622
South………………………………………… 1,438
Midwest………………………………………
West……………………………………………
881
858
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.
P
= preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 4. Quits levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
3
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region
Nov.
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
2003
2004
2004
2004
Total 4……………………………………………… 2,104
2,284
2,265
2,162
156
171
536
322
225
480
123
334
910
485
573
Rates
Nov.
Nov.
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
2004
Oct.
2004
2004p
2003
2004
2004
2004
2004
Oct.
2004
2004p
2,252
2,248
2,283
2,363
1.6
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.8
2,141
101
174
559
322
271
442
126
2,140
147
165
552
308
239
476
116
2,118
138
183
536
325
240
439
130
2,147
161
172
515
296
242
476
122
2,269
152
176
559
374
250
488
106
1.8
2.3
1.2
1.9
1.6
1.3
3.8
.5
2.0
2.3
1.2
2.1
2.0
1.3
3.9
.6
2.0
1.5
1.2
2.2
2.0
1.6
3.6
.6
1.9
2.1
1.1
2.2
1.9
1.4
3.9
.5
1.9
2.0
1.3
2.1
2.0
1.4
3.6
.6
1.9
2.3
1.2
2.0
1.8
1.4
3.9
.6
2.1
2.2
1.2
2.2
2.2
1.5
3.9
.5
338
901
505
519
339
897
447
566
325
903
472
546
316
910
510
539
353
955
558
483
1.2
1.9
1.5
1.6
1.3
2.0
1.6
2.0
1.3
1.9
1.6
1.8
1.3
1.9
1.4
2.0
1.3
1.9
1.5
1.9
1.2
2.0
1.6
1.9
1.4
2.0
1.8
1.7
Nov.
INDUSTRY
4
Total private …………………………………… 1,999
158
Manufacturing………………………………… 166
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 491
Professional and business services………
261
Education and health services……………… 225
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
463
Government……………………………………… 100
Construction…………………………………
REGION
Northeast……………………………………… 301
869
Midwest………………………………………
466
West…………………………………………… 464
South…………………………………………
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.
P
= preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 5. Job openings levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region
Total…………………………………………………………
Rates
Nov.
Oct.
Nov.
Nov.
Oct.
Nov.
2003
2004
2004p
2003
2004
2004p
2,714
3,458
2,934
2.0
2.5
2.2
2,365
7
72
193
122
71
481
77
307
97
53
160
133
27
441
533
37
496
323
32
290
103
3,071
10
102
258
164
93
765
82
591
92
78
220
185
35
603
546
59
487
366
35
331
122
2,610
9
86
205
126
79
511
99
316
96
64
206
177
29
537
519
49
470
336
38
298
137
2.1
1.2
1.0
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.8
1.4
2.0
2.0
1.6
2.0
2.2
1.3
2.6
3.1
1.3
3.4
2.6
1.9
2.7
1.9
2.7
1.6
1.4
1.8
1.8
1.7
2.9
1.4
3.8
1.8
2.4
2.7
3.0
1.7
3.5
3.1
2.0
3.3
2.9
2.0
3.0
2.2
2.3
1.4
1.2
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.9
1.7
2.0
1.9
2.0
2.5
2.9
1.4
3.1
2.9
1.6
3.2
2.7
2.2
2.8
2.5
349
45
304
388
42
345
323
31
292
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.7
1.5
1.8
1.4
1.1
1.5
515
1,060
583
555
635
1,345
718
759
503
1,118
641
672
2.0
2.2
1.8
1.9
2.4
2.8
2.2
2.5
1.9
2.3
2.0
2.3
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………
Natural resources and mining………………………
Construction……………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………
Durable goods...……………………………………
Nondurable goods...………………………………
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………
Wholesale trade……………………………………
Retail trade…………………………………………
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………
Information……………………………………………
Financial activities……..………………………………
Finance and insurance……………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing………………
Professional and business services…………………
Education and health services………………………
Educational services………………………………
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………
Accommodations and food services……………
Other services…………………………………………
Government………………………………………………
Federal…………………………………………………
State and local…………….…………………………
REGION
Northeast………………………………………………
South……………………………………………………
Midwest…………………………………………………
West……………………………………………………
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.
P
= preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 6. Hires levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region
Total…………………………………………………………
Rates
Nov.
Oct.
Nov.
Nov.
Oct.
Nov.
2003
2004
2004p
2003
2004
2004p
3,706
4,411
4,392
2.8
3.3
3.3
3,459
11
309
282
167
116
1,056
87
836
134
54
139
96
44
500
366
40
326
626
87
540
115
4,096
21
336
302
190
112
1,144
159
830
155
61
179
129
50
813
414
59
356
671
73
598
155
4,143
18
299
322
176
146
1,310
96
1,037
177
75
183
129
54
730
388
50
338
670
67
604
148
3.2
1.9
4.5
2.0
1.9
2.1
4.1
1.6
5.5
2.8
1.7
1.7
1.6
2.1
3.1
2.2
1.4
2.3
5.2
5.2
5.3
2.1
3.7
3.5
4.7
2.1
2.1
2.1
4.5
2.8
5.5
3.2
1.9
2.2
2.2
2.4
4.8
2.4
2.0
2.5
5.5
4.2
5.7
2.9
3.7
2.9
4.2
2.2
2.0
2.7
5.0
1.7
6.7
3.6
2.4
2.3
2.2
2.6
4.3
2.2
1.7
2.4
5.5
4.1
5.8
2.7
247
44
203
315
37
279
249
27
221
1.1
1.6
1.1
1.4
1.3
1.4
1.1
1.0
1.1
653
1,394
803
855
754
1,689
1,034
933
762
1,694
1,009
927
2.6
3.0
2.6
3.0
3.0
3.6
3.3
3.2
3.0
3.6
3.2
3.2
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………
Natural resources and mining………………………
Construction……………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………
Durable goods...……………………………………
Nondurable goods...………………………………
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………
Wholesale trade……………………………………
Retail trade…………………………………………
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………
Information……………………………………………
Financial activities……..………………………………
Finance and insurance……………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing………………
Professional and business services…………………
Education and health services………………………
Educational services………………………………
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………
Accommodations and food services……………
Other services…………………………………………
Government………………………………………………
Federal…………………………………………………
State and local…………….…………………………
REGION
Northeast………………………………………………
South……………………………………………………
Midwest…………………………………………………
West……………………………………………………
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.
P
= preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 7. Total separations levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Rates
Industry and region
Total…………………………………………………………
Nov.
Oct.
Nov.
Nov.
Oct.
Nov.
2003
2004
2004p
2003
2004
2004p
3,557
4,196
3,814
2.7
3.2
2.9
3,365
11
426
310
204
106
799
106
587
105
54
128
75
53
487
289
25
264
668
129
539
194
3,966
18
453
375
230
146
890
132
629
130
81
190
124
67
561
347
45
302
882
153
729
169
3,629
16
394
276
148
128
866
109
637
121
51
171
111
59
646
323
26
296
716
130
586
170
3.1
1.8
6.2
2.2
2.3
1.9
3.1
1.9
3.8
2.2
1.7
1.6
1.3
2.6
3.0
1.7
.8
1.9
5.6
7.8
5.2
3.6
3.6
3.0
6.3
2.6
2.6
2.7
3.5
2.3
4.2
2.7
2.6
2.4
2.1
3.2
3.3
2.0
1.5
2.1
7.2
8.8
6.9
3.1
3.3
2.7
5.5
1.9
1.6
2.4
3.3
1.9
4.1
2.5
1.6
2.1
1.9
2.8
3.8
1.9
.9
2.1
5.9
7.9
5.6
3.2
192
39
153
230
29
201
186
21
165
.9
1.4
.8
1.0
1.1
1.0
.8
.8
.8
591
1,267
833
866
695
1,612
938
952
682
1,354
989
789
2.3
2.7
2.7
3.0
2.7
3.4
3.0
3.3
2.7
2.9
3.1
2.7
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………
Natural resources and mining………………………
Construction……………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………
Durable goods...……………………………………
Nondurable goods...………………………………
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………
Wholesale trade……………………………………
Retail trade…………………………………………
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………
Information……………………………………………
Financial activities……..………………………………
Finance and insurance……………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing………………
Professional and business services…………………
Education and health services………………………
Educational services………………………………
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………
Accommodations and food services……………
Other services…………………………………………
Government………………………………………………
Federal…………………………………………………
State and local…………….…………………………
REGION
Northeast………………………………………………
South……………………………………………………
Midwest…………………………………………………
West……………………………………………………
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.
P
= preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 8. Quits levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region
Total…………………………………………………………
Rates
Nov.
Oct.
Nov.
Nov.
Oct.
Nov.
2003
2004
2004p
2003
2004
2004p
1,810
2,241
2,040
1.4
1.7
1.5
1,730
5
120
125
71
54
429
61
324
44
26
69
41
29
232
184
12
172
401
33
368
138
2,135
10
156
176
112
64
517
66
386
65
44
95
67
28
292
228
27
201
499
45
453
118
1,958
7
128
133
64
69
502
48
386
68
29
89
63
26
334
204
16
188
433
40
393
99
1.6
.8
1.7
.9
.8
1.0
1.7
1.1
2.1
.9
.8
.9
.7
1.4
1.4
1.1
.4
1.2
3.4
2.0
3.6
2.6
1.9
1.7
2.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
2.0
1.2
2.6
1.3
1.4
1.2
1.1
1.4
1.7
1.3
.9
1.4
4.1
2.6
4.3
2.2
1.8
1.2
1.8
.9
.7
1.3
1.9
.9
2.5
1.4
.9
1.1
1.1
1.2
2.0
1.2
.5
1.3
3.6
2.4
3.7
1.8
80
10
71
106
11
95
81
7
74
.4
.4
.4
.5
.4
.5
.4
.3
.4
253
739
404
415
337
906
491
507
306
830
488
416
1.0
1.6
1.3
1.4
1.3
1.9
1.6
1.7
1.2
1.8
1.5
1.4
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………
Natural resources and mining………………………
Construction……………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………
Durable goods...……………………………………
Nondurable goods...………………………………
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………
Wholesale trade……………………………………
Retail trade…………………………………………
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………
Information……………………………………………
Financial activities……..………………………………
Finance and insurance……………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing………………
Professional and business services…………………
Education and health services………………………
Educational services………………………………
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………
Accommodations and food services……………
Other services…………………………………………
Government………………………………………………
Federal…………………………………………………
State and local…………….…………………………
REGION
Northeast………………………………………………
South……………………………………………………
Midwest…………………………………………………
West……………………………………………………
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.
P
= preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Rates
Industry and region
Total…………………………………………………………
Nov.
Oct.
Nov.
Nov.
Oct.
Nov.
2003
2004
2004p
2003
2004
2004p
1,530
1,689
1,535
1.2
1.3
1.2
1,452
5
297
159
115
44
319
37
236
46
25
47
24
23
232
82
9
73
232
92
141
53
1,600
5
271
180
105
74
305
59
194
51
33
69
32
36
232
95
14
81
367
104
262
44
1,462
6
256
126
73
53
305
57
210
38
16
69
36
33
278
99
10
89
242
85
157
64
1.3
.9
4.3
1.1
1.3
.8
1.2
.7
1.5
1.0
.8
.6
.4
1.1
1.4
.5
.3
.5
1.9
5.6
1.4
1.0
1.4
.9
3.8
1.2
1.2
1.4
1.2
1.0
1.3
1.0
1.0
.8
.5
1.7
1.4
.6
.5
.6
3.0
6.0
2.5
.8
1.3
1.0
3.6
.9
.8
1.0
1.2
1.0
1.4
.8
.5
.9
.6
1.6
1.7
.6
.3
.6
2.0
5.2
1.5
1.2
78
22
56
89
9
80
73
3
71
.4
.8
.3
.4
.3
.4
.3
.1
.4
297
448
378
407
296
603
405
385
320
449
448
318
1.2
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.2
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.0
1.4
1.1
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………
Natural resources and mining………………………
Construction……………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………
Durable goods...……………………………………
Nondurable goods...………………………………
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………
Wholesale trade……………………………………
Retail trade…………………………………………
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………
Information……………………………………………
Financial activities……..………………………………
Finance and insurance……………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing………………
Professional and business services…………………
Education and health services………………………
Educational services………………………………
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………
Accommodations and food services……………
Other services…………………………………………
Government………………………………………………
Federal…………………………………………………
State and local…………….…………………………
REGION
Northeast………………………………………………
South……………………………………………………
Midwest…………………………………………………
West……………………………………………………
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.
P
= preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 10. Other separations levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Rates
Industry and region
Total…………………………………………………………
Nov.
Oct.
Nov.
Nov.
Oct.
Nov.
2003
2004
2004p
2003
2004
2004p
218
266
239
0.2
0.2
0.2
184
1
9
26
18
8
50
9
27
15
4
11
10
1
23
22
3
19
34
4
30
3
231
3
25
19
13
7
68
7
48
14
5
26
24
2
36
24
3
20
16
3
13
7
208
3
9
17
11
6
60
3
41
15
6
13
12
1
34
20
1
19
40
5
36
7
.2
.1
.1
.2
.2
.1
.2
.2
.2
.3
.1
.1
.2
.2
.5
.1
.1
.1
.1
.2
.1
.3
.3
.2
.2
.2
.1
.1
.1
.1
.3
.2
.3
.1
.2
.5
.4
.1
.1
.1
.3
.1
.3
.3
.2
.3
.4
.1
.2
.1
.1
.1
.1
.2
.1
.1
34
8
26
36
9
26
31
10
21
.2
.3
.1
.2
.4
.1
.1
.4
.1
42
81
51
44
62
103
42
60
56
76
53
54
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………
Natural resources and mining………………………
Construction……………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………
Durable goods...……………………………………
Nondurable goods...………………………………
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………
Wholesale trade……………………………………
Retail trade…………………………………………
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………
Information……………………………………………
Financial activities……..………………………………
Finance and insurance……………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing………………
Professional and business services…………………
Education and health services………………………
Educational services………………………………
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………
Accommodations and food services……………
Other services…………………………………………
Government………………………………………………
Federal…………………………………………………
State and local…………….…………………………
(3)
(3)
.2
.1
(3)
.1
.3
.3
.3
.1
REGION
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
Data round to zero.
P
= preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.