Job Openings

On the last business day of October 2006, there were 4.1 million job openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.9 %. The job openings rate did not change significantly in October but has generally trended upward since September 2006. In October, the job openings rate increased in professional and business services and in the West region, but decreased in manufacturing.

Hires and Separations

The hires rate was little changed at 3.4 % in October. Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. Over the month, the hires rate increased in the trade, transportation, and utilities industry. At the same time, the hires rate decreased in manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, and in the Northeast region. The total separations, or turnover, rate was essentially unchanged at 3.1 % in October. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In October, the total separations rate did not change significantly in any industry. Geographically, the total separations rate decreased in the Midwest, while remaining essentially unchanged in all other regions.

Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and discharges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including retirements). The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers' ability to change jobs, was little changed at 1.8 % in October. Over the month, the quits rate fell in manufacturing, education and health services, and in the Midwest region.

The other two components of total separations--layoffs and discharges, and other separations--are not seasonally adjusted. From December 2004 to December 2005, the layoffs and discharges rate fell to 1.1 %, while the other separations rate was unchanged at 0.2 %.  Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.7 million per month and separations have averaged 4.4 million per month (not seasonally adjusted).

The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.5 million hires and 4.2 million separations.

For More Information

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for January 2006 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, March 14, 2006.

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Revisions to the JOLTS Data

With the release of  October 2006 data on March 14, BLS will revise the job openings, hires, and separations data to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors. Unadjusted data since April 2004 and seasonally adjusted data since December 2000 are subject to revision. Additionally, starting with next month's release, BLS will begin the publication of annual rates and levels for hires and separations in the January release each year. |

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Technical Note

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.

4. Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.

NOTE: 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.

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Technical information: (202) 691-5870 USDL 06-225

Media contact: 202-691-5902