For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Tuesday, November 8, 2011 USDL-11-1610
Technical information: (202) 691-5870 • JoltsInfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/jlt
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov
Job Openings and Labor Turnover – September 2011
There were 3.4 million job openings on the last business day of
September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The
hires rate (3.2 percent) and separations rate (3.2 percent) were
little changed over the month. The job openings rate has trended
upward 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 September was 3.4 million, up from 3.1
million in August. (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 September was 1.2 million higher than in
July 2009 (the most recent trough for the series). The number of job
openings has increased 38 percent since the end of the recession in
June 2009.
________________________________________________________________________
|Adjustments to August JOLTS data |
| |
|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 this release, August |
|estimates reflect both regular revisions and corrections. For further |
|assistance, see www.bls.gov/bls/errata/jolts_corrections_11082011.htm.|
|______________________________________________________________________|
Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Job openings | Hires | Total separations
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Industry | Sept.| Aug. | Sept.| Sept.| Aug. | Sept.| Sept.| Aug. | Sept.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2011p| 2010 | 2011 | 2011p| 2010 | 2011 | 2011p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total..............|2,756 |3,129 |3,354 |3,869 |4,060 |4,245 |3,904 |3,960 |4,149
| | | | | | | | |
Total private(1)..|2,429 |2,799 |2,988 |3,614 |3,785 |3,984 |3,526 |3,688 |3,861
Construction.....| 68 | 102 | 75 | 327 | 309 | 404 | 330 | 320 | 367
Manufacturing....| 183 | 232 | 242 | 240 | 249 | 239 | 245 | 250 | 246
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and | | | | | | | | |
utilities(2)....| 419 | 490 | 546 | 776 | 779 | 758 | 763 | 762 | 757
Retail trade....| 239 | 324 | 344 | 539 | 526 | 537 | 531 | 521 | 534
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services........| 554 | 621 | 684 | 747 | 863 |1,002 | 742 | 824 | 946
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices...........| 510 | 609 | 616 | 487 | 481 | 470 | 460 | 444 | 407
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality.....| 284 | 351 | 362 | 645 | 679 | 699 | 607 | 689 | 707
Arts, enter- | | | | | | | | |
tainment and | | | | | | | | |
recreation.....| 35 | 44 | 53 | 110 | 110 | 126 | 104 | 113 | 144
Accommodation | | | | | | | | |
and food | | | | | | | | |
services.......| 248 | 307 | 309 | 535 | 569 | 573 | 503 | 576 | 563
Government(3).....| 326 | 329 | 366 | 255 | 275 | 262 | 379 | 272 | 288
State and local | | | | | | | | |
government......| 239 | 287 | 313 | 224 | 247 | 233 | 266 | 240 | 255
|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Rates (percent)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total..............| 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.2
| | | | | | | | |
Total private(1)..| 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.5
Construction.....| 1.2 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 7.3 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 6.6
Manufacturing....| 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and | | | | | | | | |
utilities(2)....| 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.0
Retail trade....| 1.6 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.7
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services........| 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 5.8 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 5.5
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices...........| 2.5 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.0
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality.....| 2.1 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 4.9 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 5.2 | 5.3
Arts, enter- | | | | | | | | |
tainment and | | | | | | | | |
recreation.....| 1.8 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 6.7 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 7.6
Accommodation | | | | | | | | |
and food | | | | | | | | |
services.......| 2.2 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 5.0
Government(3).....| 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 1.3
State and local | | | | | | | | |
government......| 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 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 September (not seasonally adjusted)
increased over the year for total nonfarm, total private, 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 3 out of 4
regions. (See table 5.)
Hires
In September, the hires rate was little changed at 3.2 percent for
total nonfarm. The hires rate increased in construction and
professional and business services as well as in 3 out of 4 regions.
(See table 2.) The number of hires in September was 4.2 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 17 percent since the end of
the recession in June 2009.
Over the past 12 months, the hires rate (not seasonally adjusted) was
little changed for total nonfarm, total private, and government. The
hires rate increased for construction and professional and business
services. The hires rate increased in the Midwest and decreased in the
Northeast. (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 little changed in
September for total nonfarm, total private, and government. (See table
3.) Over the year, the total separations rate (not seasonally
adjusted) increased 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 September, the quits rate was essentially
unchanged for total nonfarm, total private, and government. (See table
4.) The number of quits rose from 1.5 million in January 2010 (the
most recent trough) to 2.0 million in September, although it remained
below the 2.8 million recorded when the recession began in December
2007.
The number of quits (not seasonally adjusted) in September 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. (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 remained unchanged
in September for total nonfarm and government. The rate was little
changed for total private. The number of layoffs and discharges for
total nonfarm has declined to 1.8 million in September 2011 from 2.5
million in February 2009 (peak), returning to pre-recession levels.
(See table B.)
The layoffs and discharges level (not seasonally adjusted) for total
nonfarm and total private were little changed but declined over the 12
months ending in September 2011 for government. Over the year, the
number of layoffs and discharges was little changed for most
industries and in all four regions. (See table 9.)
Table B. Layoffs and discharges by industry, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands) | Rates (percent)
|------------------------------------------------
Industry | Sept.| Aug. | Sept.| Sept.| Aug. | Sept.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2011p| 2010 | 2011 | 2011p
-------------------|------------------------------------------------
Total..............| 1,714 | 1,687 | 1,756 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3
Total private.....| 1,518 | 1,583 | 1,638 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.5
Government........| 196 | 104 | 118 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------
p = Preliminary
The other separations series is not seasonally adjusted. In September
2011, there were 329,000 other separations for total nonfarm, 276,000
for total private, and 53,000 for government. Compared to September
2010, the number of other separations was down for government and the
South region. (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 most 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 September
2011, the proportion of quits for total nonfarm was 49 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
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Sept. | Aug. | Sept. | Sept. | Aug. | Sept.
| 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..............| 1,843 | 47% | 2,006 | 51% | 2,048 | 49% | 1,714 | 44% | 1,687 | 43% | 1,756 | 42%
Total private.....| 1,723 | 49% | 1,889 | 51% | 1,933 | 50% | 1,518 | 43% | 1,583 | 43% | 1,638 | 42%
Government........| 120 | 32% | 117 | 43% | 115 | 40% | 196 | 52% | 104 | 38% | 118 | 41%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
p = Preliminary
Net Change in Employment
Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month. Over the 12
months ending in September 2011, hires totaled 48.3 million and
separations totaled 47.0 million, yielding a net employment gain of
1.3 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 October 2011
are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, December 13, 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 Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.
2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p
Total................................. 2,756 2,953 3,034 3,169 3,213 3,129 3,354 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.5
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)........................ 2,429 2,635 2,725 2,835 2,905 2,799 2,988 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.7
Construction........................... 68 90 100 68 75 102 75 1.2 1.6 1.8 1.2 1.3 1.8 1.3
Manufacturing.......................... 183 226 211 217 252 232 242 1.6 1.9 1.8 1.8 2.1 1.9 2.0
Trade, transportation, and utilities(5) 419 524 484 515 540 490 546 1.7 2.1 1.9 2.0 2.1 1.9 2.1
Retail trade.......................... 239 312 276 332 312 324 344 1.6 2.1 1.9 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.3
Professional and business services..... 554 497 615 616 640 621 684 3.2 2.8 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.8
Education and health services.......... 510 550 594 596 604 609 616 2.5 2.7 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.0
Leisure and hospitality................ 284 305 298 360 338 351 362 2.1 2.3 2.2 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.7
Arts, entertainment, and recreation... 35 36 34 55 62 44 53 1.8 1.9 1.8 2.8 3.2 2.3 2.7
Accommodation and food services....... 248 269 264 305 276 307 309 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.6 2.7
Government(6)......................... 326 319 309 334 309 329 366 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.6
State and local government............. 239 268 261 279 253 287 313 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.6
REGION(7)
Northeast........................... 559 531 586 522 570 589 607 2.2 2.1 2.3 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.4
South............................... 1,015 985 1,087 1,109 1,192 1,108 1,251 2.1 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.6
Midwest............................. 540 664 730 686 714 732 714 1.8 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.3
West................................ 648 681 719 753 753 775 810 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.7
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 Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.
2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p
Total................................. 3,869 4,001 4,129 4,058 3,976 4,060 4,245 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.0 3.1 3.2
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)........................ 3,614 3,733 3,870 3,797 3,733 3,785 3,984 3.4 3.4 3.6 3.5 3.4 3.5 3.6
Construction........................... 327 355 371 360 334 309 404 5.9 6.4 6.7 6.5 6.0 5.6 7.3
Manufacturing.......................... 240 257 263 260 259 249 239 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.0
Trade, transportation, and utilities(5) 776 791 804 802 767 779 758 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.0
Retail trade.......................... 539 556 557 553 552 526 537 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.6 3.7
Professional and business services..... 747 831 902 806 819 863 1,002 4.5 4.9 5.3 4.7 4.8 5.0 5.8
Education and health services.......... 487 468 480 485 472 481 470 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3
Leisure and hospitality................ 645 653 629 689 682 679 699 4.9 4.9 4.8 5.2 5.2 5.1 5.3
Arts, entertainment, and recreation... 110 107 111 104 96 110 126 5.7 5.6 5.9 5.5 5.1 5.8 6.7
Accommodation and food services....... 535 546 517 585 586 569 573 4.8 4.8 4.6 5.2 5.2 5.0 5.1
Government(6)......................... 255 269 259 261 243 275 262 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.2
State and local government............. 224 244 232 238 219 247 233 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.2
REGION(7)
Northeast........................... 724 695 675 681 675 604 719 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.4 2.9
South............................... 1,427 1,471 1,643 1,503 1,488 1,526 1,652 3.0 3.1 3.5 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.5
Midwest............................. 854 941 890 908 910 919 1,087 2.9 3.2 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.6
West................................ 852 864 826 910 893 868 1,000 3.0 3.0 2.9 3.2 3.1 3.0 3.5
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 Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.
2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p
Total................................. 3,904 3,833 4,145 3,993 3,962 3,960 4,149 3.0 2.9 3.2 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.2
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)........................ 3,526 3,528 3,844 3,687 3,659 3,688 3,861 3.3 3.2 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.5
Construction........................... 330 357 376 371 327 320 367 6.0 6.5 6.8 6.7 5.9 5.8 6.6
Manufacturing.......................... 245 241 272 252 239 250 246 2.1 2.1 2.3 2.2 2.0 2.1 2.1
Trade, transportation, and utilities(5) 763 725 799 785 770 762 757 3.1 2.9 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.0
Retail trade.......................... 531 511 562 538 547 521 534 3.7 3.5 3.9 3.7 3.8 3.6 3.7
Professional and business services..... 742 785 892 766 806 824 946 4.4 4.6 5.2 4.5 4.7 4.8 5.5
Education and health services.......... 460 428 450 459 431 444 407 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.0
Leisure and hospitality................ 607 621 652 653 670 689 707 4.6 4.7 4.9 4.9 5.1 5.2 5.3
Arts, entertainment, and recreation... 104 109 123 101 97 113 144 5.4 5.7 6.6 5.3 5.1 6.0 7.6
Accommodation and food services....... 503 512 528 552 573 576 563 4.5 4.5 4.7 4.9 5.1 5.1 5.0
Government(6)......................... 379 304 301 306 302 272 288 1.7 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.3
State and local government............. 266 278 271 273 271 240 255 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.3
REGION(7)
Northeast........................... 664 763 757 634 665 627 718 2.7 3.1 3.0 2.5 2.7 2.5 2.9
South............................... 1,456 1,402 1,528 1,421 1,482 1,463 1,555 3.1 3.0 3.2 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.3
Midwest............................. 902 947 942 934 905 903 982 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.0 3.0 3.3
West................................ 851 898 974 863 853 812 902 3.0 3.1 3.4 3.0 3.0 2.8 3.1
1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
3 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 Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.
2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p
Total................................. 1,843 1,887 2,000 1,904 1,969 2,006 2,048 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.6
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)........................ 1,723 1,771 1,877 1,786 1,839 1,889 1,933 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.8
Construction........................... 80 91 92 75 71 66 84 1.5 1.7 1.7 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.5
Manufacturing.......................... 93 105 109 109 101 98 95 .8 .9 .9 .9 .9 .8 .8
Trade, transportation, and utilities(5) 411 410 463 432 412 422 432 1.7 1.6 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7
Retail trade.......................... 319 315 351 333 316 319 327 2.2 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.2
Professional and business services..... 337 360 372 330 391 383 425 2.0 2.1 2.2 1.9 2.3 2.2 2.5
Education and health services.......... 235 239 253 264 238 268 243 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.2
Leisure and hospitality................ 358 386 388 395 401 432 421 2.7 2.9 2.9 3.0 3.0 3.3 3.2
Arts, entertainment, and recreation... 38 42 45 42 44 48 44 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.6 2.3
Accommodation and food services....... 320 344 343 353 357 384 378 2.9 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.4 3.3
Government(6)......................... 120 117 123 117 130 117 115 .5 .5 .6 .5 .6 .5 .5
State and local government............. 106 108 114 108 121 108 105 .5 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .5
REGION(7)
Northeast........................... 262 266 330 264 264 285 295 1.1 1.1 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.2
South............................... 762 741 816 744 782 821 837 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.8
Midwest............................. 374 456 484 465 476 495 482 1.3 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6
West................................ 382 400 460 406 460 447 444 1.3 1.4 1.6 1.4 1.6 1.5 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 Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.
2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p
Total........................................... 2,763 3,220 3,425 2.1 2.4 2.5
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 2,454 2,864 3,061 2.2 2.5 2.7
Mining and Logging............................ 14 27 32 1.9 3.2 3.7
Construction.................................. 75 110 80 1.3 1.9 1.4
Manufacturing................................. 191 244 254 1.6 2.0 2.1
Durable goods................................ 129 170 179 1.8 2.3 2.4
Nondurable goods............................. 62 74 75 1.4 1.6 1.6
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 458 534 610 1.8 2.1 2.4
Wholesale trade.............................. 81 69 106 1.5 1.2 1.9
Retail trade................................. 267 358 395 1.8 2.4 2.7
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 109 107 109 2.2 2.2 2.2
Information................................... 58 94 112 2.1 3.4 4.1
Financial activities.......................... 215 172 194 2.7 2.2 2.5
Finance and insurance........................ 191 129 149 3.3 2.2 2.6
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 24 43 45 1.2 2.1 2.3
Professional and business services............ 545 598 685 3.1 3.3 3.8
Education and health services................. 492 603 601 2.5 3.0 2.9
Educational services......................... 43 62 57 1.4 2.1 1.8
Health care and social assistance............ 449 542 544 2.7 3.1 3.1
Leisure and hospitality....................... 290 391 380 2.1 2.7 2.7
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 33 51 51 1.6 2.3 2.5
Accommodation and food services............. 257 341 328 2.2 2.8 2.8
Other services................................ 117 89 113 2.1 1.6 2.0
Government..................................... 309 356 364 1.4 1.7 1.6
Federal....................................... 70 44 45 2.4 1.5 1.6
State and local............................... 238 312 319 1.2 1.7 1.7
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 552 598 610 2.2 2.3 2.4
South......................................... 1,018 1,106 1,304 2.1 2.3 2.7
Midwest....................................... 569 779 732 1.9 2.6 2.4
West.......................................... 623 737 779 2.1 2.5 2.6
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 Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.
2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p
Total........................................... 4,115 4,545 4,456 3.2 3.5 3.4
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,752 4,057 4,096 3.5 3.7 3.7
Mining and Logging............................ 20 27 24 2.7 3.3 2.9
Construction.................................. 299 306 373 5.2 5.2 6.4
Manufacturing................................. 257 280 246 2.2 2.4 2.1
Durable goods................................ 132 153 137 1.9 2.1 1.9
Nondurable goods............................. 125 126 109 2.8 2.8 2.4
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 851 806 816 3.5 3.2 3.3
Wholesale trade.............................. 133 118 109 2.4 2.1 2.0
Retail trade................................. 579 556 573 4.0 3.8 4.0
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 140 132 134 2.9 2.8 2.8
Information................................... 50 64 57 1.9 2.4 2.1
Financial activities.......................... 155 169 137 2.0 2.2 1.8
Finance and insurance........................ 115 98 86 2.0 1.7 1.5
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 40 71 51 2.1 3.6 2.6
Professional and business services............ 704 863 954 4.2 5.0 5.5
Education and health services................. 589 624 576 3.0 3.2 2.9
Educational services......................... 137 121 152 4.4 4.2 4.8
Health care and social assistance............ 453 503 424 2.8 3.0 2.5
Leisure and hospitality....................... 646 749 711 4.9 5.4 5.3
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 102 107 126 5.1 5.0 6.4
Accommodation and food services............. 544 642 586 4.8 5.5 5.1
Other services................................ 180 170 202 3.4 3.1 3.7
Government..................................... 363 487 359 1.6 2.3 1.7
Federal....................................... 32 29 30 1.1 1.0 1.1
State and local............................... 331 458 329 1.7 2.5 1.7
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 839 658 733 3.4 2.6 2.9
South......................................... 1,468 1,821 1,628 3.1 3.8 3.4
Midwest....................................... 896 1,067 1,095 3.0 3.6 3.7
West.......................................... 913 999 999 3.2 3.5 3.5
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 Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.
2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p
Total........................................... 4,090 4,714 4,422 3.1 3.6 3.4
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,652 4,318 4,068 3.4 3.9 3.7
Mining and Logging............................ 17 24 21 2.3 3.0 2.6
Construction.................................. 327 324 370 5.7 5.6 6.4
Manufacturing................................. 238 282 240 2.0 2.4 2.0
Durable goods................................ 122 164 140 1.7 2.2 1.9
Nondurable goods............................. 117 118 101 2.6 2.6 2.2
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 772 840 767 3.1 3.4 3.1
Wholesale trade.............................. 129 118 112 2.4 2.1 2.0
Retail trade................................. 528 590 536 3.7 4.0 3.7
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 115 132 119 2.4 2.7 2.5
Information................................... 50 68 60 1.9 2.5 2.3
Financial activities.......................... 150 181 152 2.0 2.4 2.0
Finance and insurance........................ 102 102 97 1.8 1.8 1.7
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 48 78 55 2.5 4.0 2.8
Professional and business services............ 696 885 919 4.1 5.1 5.3
Education and health services................. 491 591 423 2.5 3.0 2.1
Educational services......................... 80 111 72 2.6 3.8 2.3
Health care and social assistance............ 412 479 351 2.5 2.9 2.1
Leisure and hospitality....................... 762 893 918 5.7 6.4 6.8
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 184 171 267 9.1 7.9 13.6
Accommodation and food services............. 578 722 650 5.1 6.2 5.7
Other services................................ 148 231 198 2.8 4.2 3.6
Government..................................... 438 396 354 2.0 1.9 1.6
Federal....................................... 119 43 40 4.2 1.5 1.4
State and local............................... 319 353 314 1.7 2.0 1.7
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 734 798 794 3.0 3.2 3.2
South......................................... 1,460 1,806 1,564 3.1 3.8 3.3
Midwest....................................... 987 1,116 1,094 3.3 3.7 3.7
West.......................................... 908 994 969 3.2 3.4 3.3
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 Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.
2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p
Total........................................... 1,988 2,612 2,238 1.5 2.0 1.7
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 1,851 2,430 2,112 1.7 2.2 1.9
Mining and Logging............................ 8 17 12 1.1 2.1 1.4
Construction.................................. 85 88 96 1.5 1.5 1.7
Manufacturing................................. 104 138 103 .9 1.2 .9
Durable goods................................ 46 71 53 .6 1.0 .7
Nondurable goods............................. 58 67 50 1.3 1.5 1.1
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 445 533 474 1.8 2.1 1.9
Wholesale trade.............................. 43 61 63 .8 1.1 1.1
Retail trade................................. 344 405 355 2.4 2.8 2.5
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 57 67 56 1.2 1.4 1.1
Information................................... 27 44 35 1.0 1.6 1.3
Financial activities.......................... 92 105 69 1.2 1.4 .9
Finance and insurance........................ 55 59 45 1.0 1.0 .8
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 36 46 24 1.9 2.3 1.3
Professional and business services............ 326 463 426 1.9 2.7 2.5
Education and health services................. 260 341 267 1.3 1.7 1.3
Educational services......................... 39 65 34 1.3 2.2 1.1
Health care and social assistance............ 221 276 232 1.3 1.6 1.4
Leisure and hospitality....................... 425 590 512 3.2 4.3 3.8
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 59 85 67 2.9 3.9 3.4
Accommodation and food services............. 367 505 445 3.2 4.3 3.9
Other services................................ 79 112 118 1.5 2.0 2.2
Government..................................... 137 183 126 .6 .9 .6
Federal....................................... 14 14 11 .5 .5 .4
State and local............................... 123 168 115 .6 .9 .6
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 333 356 352 1.3 1.4 1.4
South......................................... 788 1,034 880 1.7 2.2 1.8
Midwest....................................... 430 673 522 1.5 2.3 1.7
West.......................................... 437 549 484 1.5 1.9 1.7
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 Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.
2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p
Total........................................... 1,761 1,783 1,855 1.4 1.4 1.4
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 1,529 1,627 1,679 1.4 1.5 1.5
Mining and Logging............................ 6 6 8 .9 .8 .9
Construction.................................. 229 227 257 4.0 3.9 4.4
Manufacturing................................. 120 121 120 1.0 1.0 1.0
Durable goods................................ 67 77 74 .9 1.1 1.0
Nondurable goods............................. 53 44 47 1.2 1.0 1.0
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 249 230 215 1.0 .9 .9
Wholesale trade.............................. 72 33 36 1.3 .6 .6
Retail trade................................. 137 150 136 1.0 1.0 .9
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 40 46 43 .8 1.0 .9
Information................................... 16 21 21 .6 .8 .8
Financial activities.......................... 46 54 65 .6 .7 .9
Finance and insurance........................ 38 28 43 .7 .5 .8
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 8 26 22 .4 1.3 1.1
Professional and business services............ 309 371 419 1.8 2.1 2.4
Education and health services................. 200 212 132 1.0 1.1 .7
Educational services......................... 36 36 33 1.2 1.2 1.1
Health care and social assistance............ 163 176 98 1.0 1.0 .6
Leisure and hospitality....................... 298 275 376 2.2 2.0 2.8
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 123 84 198 6.1 3.9 10.1
Accommodation and food services............. 175 191 178 1.6 1.6 1.6
Other services................................ 56 110 67 1.0 2.0 1.2
Government..................................... 232 155 175 1.1 .7 .8
Federal....................................... 92 21 20 3.2 .8 .7
State and local............................... 140 134 155 .7 .7 .8
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 334 381 387 1.3 1.5 1.5
South......................................... 535 660 588 1.1 1.4 1.2
Midwest....................................... 485 367 483 1.6 1.2 1.6
West.......................................... 407 375 396 1.4 1.3 1.4
1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month.
2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a
percent of total employment.
3 See footnote 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 Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.
2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p
Total........................................... 341 319 329 0.3 0.2 0.3
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 272 261 276 .3 .2 .3
Mining and Logging............................ 2 1 2 .3 .1 .2
Construction.................................. 13 9 16 .2 .2 .3
Manufacturing................................. 14 22 17 .1 .2 .1
Durable goods................................ 9 16 12 .1 .2 .2
Nondurable goods............................. 6 7 5 .1 .2 .1
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 79 77 79 .3 .3 .3
Wholesale trade.............................. 13 24 14 .2 .4 .2
Retail trade................................. 47 35 44 .3 .2 .3
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 18 18 21 .4 .4 .4
Information................................... 7 3 5 .3 .1 .2
Financial activities.......................... 13 22 17 .2 .3 .2
Finance and insurance........................ 9 16 9 .2 .3 .2
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 4 7 8 .2 .3 .4
Professional and business services............ 62 50 74 .4 .3 .4
Education and health services................. 31 38 24 .2 .2 .1
Educational services......................... 4 10 4 .1 .4 .1
Health care and social assistance............ 27 28 20 .2 .2 .1
Leisure and hospitality....................... 39 28 30 .3 .2 .2
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 2 2 2 .1 .1 .1
Accommodation and food services............. 36 27 28 .3 .2 .2
Other services................................ 13 9 12 .2 .2 .2
Government..................................... 69 58 53 .3 .3 .2
Federal....................................... 13 7 9 .4 .2 .3
State and local............................... 56 51 44 .3 .3 .2
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 67 60 55 .3 .2 .2
South......................................... 137 111 97 .3 .2 .2
Midwest....................................... 73 77 89 .2 .3 .3
West.......................................... 64 70 88 .2 .2 .3
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
