For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, October 12, 2011 USDL-11-1468
Technical information: (202) 691-5870 • JoltsInfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/jlt
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov
(Note: August estimates of hires, separations, and job openings
originally published on October 12, 2011, had not been adjusted to
account for a strike in the information industry. With the release
of September estimates, August estimates found in the September
release and database reflect both regular revisions and corrections.
Estimates in this release will not be corrected. For further assistance,
see www.bls.gov/bls/errata/jolts_corrections_11082011.htm.)
Job Openings and Labor Turnover – August 2011
There were 3.1 million job openings on the last business day of
August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The hires
rate (3.1 percent) and separations rate (3.0 percent) were essentially
unchanged over the month. The job openings rate has trended upward
slowly since the end of the recession in June 2009 (as determined by
the National Bureau of Economic Research). 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 August was 3.1 million, little changed
from July. (See table 1.) Although the number of job openings remained
below the 4.4 million openings when the recession began in December
2007, the level in August was 944,000 higher than in July 2009 (the
most recent trough). The number of job openings is up 26 percent since
the end of the recession in June 2009.
Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Job openings | Hires | Total separations
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Industry | Aug. | July | Aug. | Aug. | July | Aug. | Aug. | July | Aug.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2011p| 2010 | 2011 | 2011p| 2010 | 2011 | 2011p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total..............|2,862 |3,213 |3,056 |3,886 |3,976 |4,014 |3,996 |3,962 |3,968
| | | | | | | | |
Total private(1)..|2,556 |2,905 |2,757 |3,627 |3,733 |3,755 |3,556 |3,659 |3,692
Construction.....| 54 | 75 | 92 | 332 | 334 | 323 | 320 | 327 | 330
Manufacturing....| 173 | 252 | 240 | 259 | 259 | 252 | 279 | 239 | 248
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and | | | | | | | | |
utilities(2)....| 409 | 540 | 489 | 749 | 767 | 782 | 769 | 770 | 773
Retail trade....| 250 | 312 | 322 | 528 | 552 | 534 | 545 | 547 | 536
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services........| 613 | 640 | 623 | 777 | 819 | 839 | 757 | 806 | 805
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices...........| 477 | 604 | 607 | 471 | 472 | 480 | 429 | 431 | 446
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality.....| 350 | 338 | 339 | 628 | 682 | 673 | 601 | 670 | 683
Arts, enter- | | | | | | | | |
tainment and | | | | | | | | |
recreation.....| 37 | 62 | 44 | 102 | 96 | 102 | 103 | 97 | 108
Accommodation | | | | | | | | |
and food | | | | | | | | |
services.......| 313 | 276 | 295 | 527 | 586 | 572 | 498 | 573 | 576
Government(3).....| 306 | 309 | 299 | 259 | 243 | 259 | 440 | 302 | 275
State and local | | | | | | | | |
government......| 228 | 253 | 261 | 221 | 219 | 231 | 289 | 271 | 244
|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Rates (percent)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total..............| 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.0
| | | | | | | | |
Total private(1)..| 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.4
Construction.....| 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 6.0
Manufacturing....| 1.5 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 2.1
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and | | | | | | | | |
utilities(2)....| 1.6 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1
Retail trade....| 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.7
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services........| 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.7
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices...........| 2.4 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality.....| 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 4.8 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 4.6 | 5.1 | 5.2
Arts, enter- | | | | | | | | |
tainment and | | | | | | | | |
recreation.....| 1.9 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 5.7
Accommodation | | | | | | | | |
and food | | | | | | | | |
services.......| 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 5.1
Government(3).....| 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 1.3
State and local | | | | | | | | |
government......| 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 federal government, not shown separately.
p = Preliminary
The number of job openings in August (not seasonally adjusted)
increased over the year for total private and was essentially
unchanged for total nonfarm and government. Several industries
experienced an increase over the year in the number of job openings;
the number of job openings decreased for federal government. The
number of job openings rose in the Midwest.
Hires
In August, the hires rate was little changed at 3.1 percent for total
nonfarm. The hires rate was also essentially unchanged for all
industries and regions. (See table 2.) The number of hires in August
was 4.0 million, up from 3.6 million in October 2009 (the most recent
trough) but below the 5.0 million hires recorded when the recession
began in December 2007. The number of hires has increased 11 percent
since the end of the recession in June 2009.
Over the past 12 months, the hires rate (not seasonally adjusted) fell
for federal government. The hires rate was essentially unchanged for
all other industries and regions. (See table 6.)
Separations
The total separations figure includes voluntary quits, involuntary
layoffs and discharges, and other separations, including retirements.
Total separations is also referred to as turnover.
The seasonally adjusted total separations rate was unchanged in August
for total nonfarm (3.0 percent) and total private (3.4 percent) and
little changed for government (1.3 percent). (See table 3.) Over the
year, the total separations rate (not seasonally adjusted) was
essentially unchanged for total nonfarm and total private but
decreased for government. (See table 7.)
The quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or
ability to change jobs. In August, the quits rate was essentially
unchanged for total nonfarm (at 1.5 percent), total private (1.7
percent), and government (0.6 percent). (See table 4.) The number of
quits rose from 1.5 million in January 2010 (the most recent trough)
to 2.0 million in August although it remained below the 2.8 million
recorded when the recession began in December 2007.
The number of quits (not seasonally adjusted) in August 2011 increased
from 12 months earlier for total nonfarm and total private and was
essentially unchanged for government. Several industries experienced
an increase in the number of quits over the year, while federal
government experienced a decline. Among the regions, the number of
quits rose in the Midwest and South. (See table 8.)
The layoffs and discharges component of total separations is
seasonally adjusted only at the total nonfarm, total private, and
government levels. The layoffs and discharges rate was unchanged in
August for total nonfarm, total private, and government. The number of
layoffs and discharges for total nonfarm was 1.7 million in August, up
slightly from the recent low point of 1.5 million in January 2011, but
still below the peak of 2.5 million in February 2009. (See table B.)
The layoffs and discharges level (not seasonally adjusted) declined
over the 12 months ending in August 2011 for government. The level
decreased over the year for educational services, other services, and
for state and local government. The level also decreased over the year
for federal government, returning to a more typical level after a
large number of layoffs in August 2010 of temporary Census workers.
The number of layoffs and discharges was little changed in all four
regions over the year. (See table 9.)
Table B. Layoffs and discharges by industry, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands) | Rates (percent)
|------------------------------------------------
Industry | Aug. | July | Aug. | Aug. | July | Aug.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2011p| 2010 | 2011 | 2011p
-------------------|------------------------------------------------
Total..............| 1,809 | 1,694 | 1,659 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.3
Total private.....| 1,555 | 1,579 | 1,559 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4
Government........| 254 | 115 | 99 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------
p = Preliminary
The other separations series is not seasonally adjusted. In August
2011, there were 321,000 other separations for total nonfarm, 259,000
for total private, and 62,000 for government. Compared to August 2010,
the number of other separations was down for total nonfarm and
government. (See table 10.)
Relative Contributions to Separations
The total separations level is influenced by the relative contribution
of its three components—quits, layoffs and discharges, and other
separations. Other separations is historically a very small portion of
total separations; it has rarely been above 10 percent of total
separations. The percentage of total separations attributable to the
individual components has varied over time at the total nonfarm level,
but for the majority of the months since the series began in December
2000, the proportion of quits has exceeded the proportion of layoffs
and discharges. For the majority of the months between November 2008
and November 2010, however, the proportion of layoffs and discharges
was equal to or greater than the proportion of quits. Since November
2010 the series have returned to their historical pattern. In August,
the proportion of quits for total nonfarm was 51 percent, and the
proportion of layoffs and discharges was 42 percent. (See table C.)
Table C. Quits and layoffs and discharges as a percentage of total separations, seasonally adjusted
(Levels in thousands)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Quits | Layoffs and discharges
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Aug. | July | Aug. | Aug. | July | Aug.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2011p | 2010 | 2011 | 2011p
Industry | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |Portion | |Portion | |Portion | |Portion | |Portion | |Portion
| Level |of total| Level |of total| Level |of total| Level |of total| Level |of total| Level |of total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total..............| 1,846 | 46% | 1,969 | 50% | 2,030 | 51% | 1,809 | 45% | 1,694 | 43% | 1,659 | 42%
Total private.....| 1,726 | 49% | 1,839 | 50% | 1,909 | 52% | 1,555 | 44% | 1,579 | 43% | 1,559 | 42%
Government........| 120 | 27% | 130 | 43% | 122 | 44% | 254 | 58% | 115 | 38% | 99 | 36%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
p = Preliminary
Net Change in Employment
Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month. Over the 12
months ending in August 2011, hires totaled 47.9 million and
separations totaled 46.7 million, yielding a net employment gain of
1.2 million based on not seasonally adjusted data. 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 September 2011
are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 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 2007 version of the North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to
ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Workforce
Agencies verify with employers and 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 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 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 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 monthly 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.
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 to the present using an econometric technique known as X-12
ARIMA modeling. 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.
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 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 Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug.
2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p
Total................................. 2,862 3,123 2,953 3,034 3,169 3,213 3,056 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.3
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)........................ 2,556 2,793 2,635 2,725 2,835 2,905 2,757 2.3 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.5
Construction........................... 54 68 90 100 68 75 92 1.0 1.2 1.6 1.8 1.2 1.3 1.6
Manufacturing.......................... 173 235 226 211 217 252 240 1.5 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.8 2.1 2.0
Trade, transportation, and utilities(5) 409 472 524 484 515 540 489 1.6 1.9 2.1 1.9 2.0 2.1 1.9
Retail trade.......................... 250 254 312 276 332 312 322 1.7 1.7 2.1 1.9 2.2 2.1 2.2
Professional and business services..... 613 613 497 615 616 640 623 3.5 3.5 2.8 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.5
Education and health services.......... 477 609 550 594 596 604 607 2.4 3.0 2.7 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9
Leisure and hospitality................ 350 340 305 298 360 338 339 2.6 2.5 2.3 2.2 2.6 2.5 2.5
Arts, entertainment, and recreation... 37 41 36 34 55 62 44 1.9 2.1 1.9 1.8 2.8 3.2 2.3
Accommodation and food services....... 313 299 269 264 305 276 295 2.7 2.6 2.3 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.5
Government(6)......................... 306 331 319 309 334 309 299 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.3
State and local government............. 228 274 268 261 279 253 261 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.3
REGION(7)
Northeast........................... 594 675 531 586 522 570 548 2.3 2.6 2.1 2.3 2.0 2.2 2.1
South............................... 1,035 1,082 985 1,087 1,109 1,192 1,096 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.3
Midwest............................. 612 672 664 730 686 714 707 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.3
West................................ 685 752 681 719 753 753 731 2.3 2.5 2.3 2.4 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 federal government, not shown separately.
7 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 Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug.
2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p
Total................................. 3,886 4,067 4,001 4,129 4,058 3,976 4,014 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.0 3.1
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)........................ 3,627 3,807 3,733 3,870 3,797 3,733 3,755 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.6 3.5 3.4 3.4
Construction........................... 332 338 355 371 360 334 323 6.0 6.1 6.4 6.7 6.5 6.0 5.9
Manufacturing.......................... 259 269 257 263 260 259 252 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.1
Trade, transportation, and utilities(5) 749 803 791 804 802 767 782 3.0 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.1
Retail trade.......................... 528 553 556 557 553 552 534 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.7
Professional and business services..... 777 840 831 902 806 819 839 4.6 4.9 4.9 5.3 4.7 4.8 4.9
Education and health services.......... 471 470 468 480 485 472 480 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4
Leisure and hospitality................ 628 681 653 629 689 682 673 4.8 5.2 4.9 4.8 5.2 5.2 5.1
Arts, entertainment, and recreation... 102 120 107 111 104 96 102 5.3 6.3 5.6 5.9 5.5 5.1 5.4
Accommodation and food services....... 527 560 546 517 585 586 572 4.7 5.0 4.8 4.6 5.2 5.2 5.0
Government(6)......................... 259 260 269 259 261 243 259 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.2
State and local government............. 221 229 244 232 238 219 231 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.2
REGION(7)
Northeast........................... 670 717 695 675 681 675 640 2.7 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.6
South............................... 1,465 1,535 1,471 1,643 1,503 1,488 1,527 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.5 3.2 3.1 3.2
Midwest............................. 899 862 941 890 908 910 932 3.1 2.9 3.2 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.1
West................................ 845 851 864 826 910 893 890 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.9 3.2 3.1 3.1
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 federal government, not shown separately.
7 See footnote 7, 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 Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug.
2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p
Total................................. 3,996 3,805 3,833 4,145 3,993 3,962 3,968 3.1 2.9 2.9 3.2 3.0 3.0 3.0
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)........................ 3,556 3,534 3,528 3,844 3,687 3,659 3,692 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.4
Construction........................... 320 334 357 376 371 327 330 5.8 6.0 6.5 6.8 6.7 5.9 6.0
Manufacturing.......................... 279 245 241 272 252 239 248 2.4 2.1 2.1 2.3 2.2 2.0 2.1
Trade, transportation, and utilities(5) 769 772 725 799 785 770 773 3.1 3.1 2.9 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.1
Retail trade.......................... 545 541 511 562 538 547 536 3.8 3.7 3.5 3.9 3.7 3.8 3.7
Professional and business services..... 757 719 785 892 766 806 805 4.5 4.2 4.6 5.2 4.5 4.7 4.7
Education and health services.......... 429 429 428 450 459 431 446 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.2
Leisure and hospitality................ 601 650 621 652 653 670 683 4.6 4.9 4.7 4.9 4.9 5.1 5.2
Arts, entertainment, and recreation... 103 122 109 123 101 97 108 5.4 6.4 5.7 6.6 5.3 5.1 5.7
Accommodation and food services....... 498 528 512 528 552 573 576 4.5 4.7 4.5 4.7 4.9 5.1 5.1
Government(6)......................... 440 271 304 301 306 302 275 2.0 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3
State and local government............. 289 247 278 271 273 271 244 1.5 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3
REGION(7)
Northeast........................... 684 649 763 757 634 665 635 2.8 2.6 3.1 3.0 2.5 2.7 2.5
South............................... 1,494 1,519 1,402 1,528 1,421 1,482 1,487 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.2 3.0 3.1 3.1
Midwest............................. 886 912 947 942 934 905 921 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.0 3.1
West................................ 823 872 898 974 863 853 824 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.4 3.0 3.0 2.9
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 federal government, not shown separately.
7 See footnote 7, 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 Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug.
2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p
Total................................. 1,846 1,924 1,887 2,000 1,904 1,969 2,030 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)........................ 1,726 1,820 1,771 1,877 1,786 1,839 1,909 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.7
Construction........................... 77 72 91 92 75 71 69 1.4 1.3 1.7 1.7 1.3 1.3 1.2
Manufacturing.......................... 101 115 105 109 109 101 99 .9 1.0 .9 .9 .9 .9 .8
Trade, transportation, and utilities(5) 398 443 410 463 432 412 426 1.6 1.8 1.6 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.7
Retail trade.......................... 299 342 315 351 333 316 327 2.1 2.4 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.2
Professional and business services..... 363 357 360 372 330 391 377 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.2 1.9 2.3 2.2
Education and health services.......... 230 251 239 253 264 238 269 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.3
Leisure and hospitality................ 366 382 386 388 395 401 449 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.0 3.0 3.4
Arts, entertainment, and recreation... 36 46 42 45 42 44 47 1.9 2.4 2.2 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.5
Accommodation and food services....... 330 337 344 343 353 357 402 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.5
Government(6)......................... 120 104 117 123 117 130 122 .5 .5 .5 .6 .5 .6 .6
State and local government............. 103 97 108 114 108 121 113 .5 .5 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6
REGION(7)
Northeast........................... 308 293 266 330 264 264 294 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.2
South............................... 737 779 741 816 744 782 830 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.7
Midwest............................. 426 437 456 484 465 476 509 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7
West................................ 402 455 400 460 406 460 446 1.4 1.6 1.4 1.6 1.4 1.6 1.5
1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series 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 federal government, not shown separately.
7 See footnote 7, table 1.
p = Preliminary
Table 5. Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.
2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p
Total........................................... 2,954 3,392 3,158 2.2 2.5 2.4
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 2,620 3,062 2,840 2.4 2.7 2.5
Mining and Logging............................ 15 35 29 2.0 4.1 3.5
Construction.................................. 56 86 101 1.0 1.5 1.7
Manufacturing................................. 186 282 257 1.6 2.3 2.1
Durable goods................................ 129 201 186 1.8 2.7 2.5
Nondurable goods............................. 57 81 71 1.2 1.8 1.6
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 452 583 534 1.8 2.3 2.1
Wholesale trade.............................. 85 114 67 1.5 2.0 1.2
Retail trade................................. 273 354 359 1.9 2.4 2.4
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 94 115 108 2.0 2.3 2.2
Information................................... 98 102 58 3.5 3.7 2.1
Financial activities.......................... 212 202 176 2.7 2.6 2.2
Finance and insurance........................ 170 149 130 2.9 2.6 2.2
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 43 53 46 2.1 2.6 2.3
Professional and business services............ 599 661 611 3.4 3.7 3.4
Education and health services................. 477 629 605 2.4 3.1 3.0
Educational services......................... 52 83 59 1.8 2.8 2.0
Health care and social assistance............ 426 545 545 2.5 3.2 3.1
Leisure and hospitality....................... 371 341 376 2.6 2.4 2.6
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 43 58 51 1.9 2.6 2.3
Accommodation and food services............. 328 283 325 2.8 2.4 2.7
Other services................................ 153 141 94 2.7 2.5 1.7
Government..................................... 334 330 318 1.5 1.6 1.5
Federal....................................... 88 55 39 2.9 1.9 1.3
State and local............................... 246 275 279 1.3 1.5 1.5
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 611 600 572 2.4 2.4 2.2
South......................................... 1,043 1,257 1,113 2.2 2.6 2.3
Midwest....................................... 636 754 762 2.1 2.5 2.5
West.......................................... 664 781 712 2.3 2.6 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 7, table 1.
p = Preliminary
Table 6. Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.
2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p
Total........................................... 4,317 4,281 4,462 3.3 3.3 3.4
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,890 4,010 4,026 3.6 3.6 3.7
Mining and Logging............................ 30 29 29 4.1 3.6 3.6
Construction.................................. 342 375 322 5.9 6.5 5.5
Manufacturing................................. 288 290 282 2.5 2.5 2.4
Durable goods................................ 155 161 156 2.2 2.2 2.1
Nondurable goods............................. 133 128 125 3.0 2.9 2.8
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 786 767 810 3.2 3.1 3.2
Wholesale trade.............................. 101 98 111 1.8 1.8 2.0
Retail trade................................. 571 536 568 4.0 3.7 3.9
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 114 132 130 2.4 2.8 2.7
Information................................... 59 45 39 2.2 1.7 1.5
Financial activities.......................... 151 157 162 2.0 2.0 2.1
Finance and insurance........................ 97 107 89 1.7 1.9 1.6
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 54 50 72 2.7 2.5 3.7
Professional and business services............ 780 843 851 4.6 4.9 4.9
Education and health services................. 599 530 618 3.1 2.7 3.1
Educational services......................... 114 96 112 4.0 3.3 3.9
Health care and social assistance............ 485 434 505 3.0 2.6 3.0
Leisure and hospitality....................... 689 737 743 5.0 5.3 5.4
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 98 112 97 4.5 5.1 4.5
Accommodation and food services............. 592 625 646 5.2 5.4 5.5
Other services................................ 165 237 171 3.0 4.3 3.1
Government..................................... 427 271 437 2.0 1.3 2.1
Federal....................................... 40 25 30 1.4 .9 1.0
State and local............................... 387 246 407 2.1 1.4 2.3
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 697 773 655 2.8 3.1 2.6
South......................................... 1,700 1,552 1,777 3.6 3.3 3.7
Midwest....................................... 993 927 1,052 3.4 3.1 3.5
West.......................................... 927 1,029 978 3.2 3.6 3.4
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 7, table 1.
p = Preliminary
Table 7. Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.
2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p
Total........................................... 4,725 4,393 4,742 3.6 3.4 3.6
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 4,117 3,960 4,338 3.8 3.6 3.9
Mining and Logging............................ 21 20 23 2.9 2.5 2.8
Construction.................................. 333 341 339 5.7 5.9 5.8
Manufacturing................................. 309 229 281 2.7 1.9 2.4
Durable goods................................ 165 121 158 2.3 1.7 2.1
Nondurable goods............................. 144 108 123 3.2 2.4 2.7
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 849 789 859 3.5 3.2 3.4
Wholesale trade.............................. 112 104 110 2.0 1.9 2.0
Retail trade................................. 622 555 615 4.3 3.8 4.2
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 116 130 134 2.5 2.7 2.8
Information................................... 57 67 87 2.1 2.5 3.3
Financial activities.......................... 177 157 176 2.3 2.0 2.3
Finance and insurance........................ 114 111 98 2.0 2.0 1.7
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 63 45 79 3.2 2.3 4.0
Professional and business services............ 812 853 876 4.8 4.9 5.0
Education and health services................. 541 526 583 2.8 2.7 3.0
Educational services......................... 107 108 115 3.8 3.7 4.0
Health care and social assistance............ 434 418 468 2.6 2.5 2.8
Leisure and hospitality....................... 763 729 885 5.6 5.3 6.4
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 154 89 165 7.0 4.0 7.7
Accommodation and food services............. 609 640 720 5.3 5.5 6.2
Other services................................ 255 248 230 4.7 4.5 4.2
Government..................................... 608 432 404 2.9 2.1 1.9
Federal....................................... 162 32 43 5.5 1.1 1.5
State and local............................... 446 400 362 2.4 2.2 2.0
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 859 736 786 3.5 3.0 3.2
South......................................... 1,807 1,666 1,834 3.8 3.5 3.9
Midwest....................................... 1,067 980 1,129 3.6 3.3 3.8
West.......................................... 992 1,010 993 3.5 3.5 3.4
1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
3 See footnote 7, table 1.
p = Preliminary
Table 8. Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.
2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p
Total........................................... 2,393 2,248 2,677 1.8 1.7 2.0
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 2,205 2,086 2,482 2.0 1.9 2.3
Mining and Logging............................ 12 13 15 1.7 1.6 1.9
Construction.................................. 108 91 93 1.9 1.6 1.6
Manufacturing................................. 145 111 140 1.2 .9 1.2
Durable goods................................ 75 52 70 1.1 .7 1.0
Nondurable goods............................. 70 58 70 1.5 1.3 1.6
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 501 448 541 2.0 1.8 2.2
Wholesale trade.............................. 58 48 53 1.1 .9 1.0
Retail trade................................. 377 336 419 2.6 2.3 2.9
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 65 64 69 1.4 1.3 1.4
Information................................... 31 37 53 1.1 1.4 2.0
Financial activities.......................... 103 102 100 1.3 1.3 1.3
Finance and insurance........................ 64 79 54 1.1 1.4 1.0
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 39 23 46 2.0 1.2 2.3
Professional and business services............ 451 441 475 2.7 2.6 2.7
Education and health services................. 284 268 340 1.5 1.4 1.7
Educational services......................... 37 42 65 1.3 1.4 2.3
Health care and social assistance............ 247 226 275 1.5 1.3 1.6
Leisure and hospitality....................... 476 462 613 3.5 3.3 4.4
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 62 55 83 2.8 2.5 3.8
Accommodation and food services............. 414 407 530 3.6 3.5 4.5
Other services................................ 93 114 111 1.7 2.1 2.0
Government..................................... 188 162 195 .9 .8 .9
Federal....................................... 24 10 15 .8 .3 .5
State and local............................... 165 152 180 .9 .9 1.0
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 398 300 373 1.6 1.2 1.5
South......................................... 925 889 1,062 2.0 1.9 2.2
Midwest....................................... 572 536 694 1.9 1.8 2.3
West.......................................... 499 524 548 1.7 1.8 1.9
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 7, table 1.
p = Preliminary
Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.
2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p
Total........................................... 1,947 1,761 1,744 1.5 1.3 1.3
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 1,620 1,585 1,598 1.5 1.4 1.5
Mining and Logging............................ 6 6 6 .9 .7 .8
Construction.................................. 218 237 241 3.7 4.1 4.1
Manufacturing................................. 143 96 122 1.2 .8 1.0
Durable goods................................ 78 56 76 1.1 .8 1.0
Nondurable goods............................. 64 40 46 1.4 .9 1.0
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 247 251 240 1.0 1.0 1.0
Wholesale trade.............................. 47 41 30 .8 .7 .5
Retail trade................................. 167 165 164 1.2 1.1 1.1
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 34 46 47 .7 1.0 1.0
Information................................... 21 26 28 .8 1.0 1.1
Financial activities.......................... 53 47 52 .7 .6 .7
Finance and insurance........................ 38 27 26 .7 .5 .5
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 15 20 26 .8 1.0 1.3
Professional and business services............ 312 364 354 1.9 2.1 2.0
Education and health services................. 221 215 200 1.1 1.1 1.0
Educational services......................... 66 57 38 2.3 2.0 1.3
Health care and social assistance............ 155 158 162 .9 .9 1.0
Leisure and hospitality....................... 243 218 244 1.8 1.6 1.8
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 87 32 80 4.0 1.4 3.7
Accommodation and food services............. 155 187 164 1.4 1.6 1.4
Other services................................ 156 124 111 2.9 2.2 2.0
Government..................................... 327 176 147 1.5 .9 .7
Federal....................................... 129 10 20 4.4 .3 .7
State and local............................... 198 167 127 1.1 .9 .7
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 400 342 356 1.6 1.4 1.4
South......................................... 734 638 653 1.6 1.3 1.4
Midwest....................................... 395 372 356 1.3 1.3 1.2
West.......................................... 418 409 379 1.5 1.4 1.3
1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month.
2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a
percent of total employment.
3 See footnote 7, table 1.
p = Preliminary
Table 10. Other separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.
2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p
Total........................................... 385 383 321 0.3 0.3 0.2
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 292 290 259 .3 .3 .2
Mining and Logging............................ 3 1 1 .4 .2 .1
Construction.................................. 6 13 6 .1 .2 .1
Manufacturing................................. 21 23 20 .2 .2 .2
Durable goods................................ 12 13 12 .2 .2 .2
Nondurable goods............................. 10 10 7 .2 .2 .2
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 101 90 77 .4 .4 .3
Wholesale trade.............................. 7 16 27 .1 .3 .5
Retail trade................................. 78 54 32 .5 .4 .2
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 17 20 19 .4 .4 .4
Information................................... 4 4 5 .2 .2 .2
Financial activities.......................... 21 8 25 .3 .1 .3
Finance and insurance........................ 13 5 18 .2 .1 .3
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 9 3 7 .4 .1 .3
Professional and business services............ 49 48 47 .3 .3 .3
Education and health services................. 36 42 43 .2 .2 .2
Educational services......................... 5 9 11 .2 .3 .4
Health care and social assistance............ 31 34 32 .2 .2 .2
Leisure and hospitality....................... 44 48 27 .3 .3 .2
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 5 2 2 .2 .1 .1
Accommodation and food services............. 39 46 25 .3 .4 .2
Other services................................ 6 11 8 .1 .2 .1
Government..................................... 93 94 62 .4 .5 .3
Federal....................................... 9 13 8 .3 .4 .3
State and local............................... 84 81 55 .5 .5 .3
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 62 95 57 .2 .4 .2
South......................................... 148 139 120 .3 .3 .3
Midwest....................................... 100 73 79 .3 .2 .3
West.......................................... 76 77 66 .3 .3 .2
1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.
2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
3 See footnote 7, table 1.
p = Preliminary
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
