Job Openings and Labor Turnover: September 2005

Historical release narrative reproduced from the official public-domain source. Statistical tables, standard technical appendices, administrative material and attendance rosters are omitted; formatting is adapted for reading. Figures retain the release's historical context and may have been revised. Consult the linked source for the complete document.

The job openings rate increased in September while the hires and total separations rates were unchanged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region.

Job Openings

On the last business day of September 2005, there were 3.7 million job openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.7 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate rose in September, continuing the generally upward trend that began in September 2003. Over the month, the job openings rate increased in government and in the South region.

Hires and Separations

The hires rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent in September. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. Over the month, the hires rate did not change significantly in any industry or region.

The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent in September. (See table 3.) Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In September, the total separa- tions rate increased in the professional and business services industry and in government. The total separations rates in the four geographic regions did not change significantly from August.

Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and discharges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including retirements). The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers' ability to change jobs, was essentially unchanged at 2.0 percent in September. (See table 4.) The quits rate increased in manufacturing and in professional and business services, but did not change signifi- cantly in any geographic region.

The other two components of total separations--layoffs and discharges, and other separations--are not seasonally adjusted. From September 2004 to September 2005, the layoffs and discharges rate was unchanged at 1.3 percent, but the other separations rate decreased to 0.2 percent. (See tables 9 an 10.)

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 4.4 million hires and 4.2 million separations. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.)

For additional information, please read the Technical Note or visit the JOLTS Web site at http://www.bls.gov/jlt/. Additional information about JOLTS also may be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling (202) 691-5870.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for October 2005 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, December 13, 2005.