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The job openings and total separations rates were unchanged in September, while the hires rate was essentially unchanged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This release includes esti- mates 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 2006, there were 4.1 million job openings in the United States and the job openings rate was 2.9 percent. The job openings rate was unchanged over the month and has been little changed since November 2005. In September, the job openings rate did not change significantly in any industry or region. The industries with the highest seasonally adjusted job openings rate in September 2006 were edu- cation and health services (3.8 percent), leisure and hospitality (3.8 per- cent), and professional and business services (3.7 percent). (See table 1.)
Over the year, the job openings rate rose in several of the private sector industries, in state and local government, and in the Northeast region. The job openings rate did not decline significantly over the year in any industry or region. (See table 5.)
Hires
The hires rate was little changed at 3.5 percent in September. Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. In September, the hires rate did not rise significantly in any industry but fell in trade, transportation, and utilities and in government. Geographically, the hires rate did not change significantly in any region over the month. The seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in September in the leisure and hospitality industry (6.2 percent). (See table 2.)
From September 2005 to September 2006, the hires rate increased in mining and in finance and insurance but decreased in construction; arts, entertain- ment, and recreation; federal government; and the Northeast region. (See table 6.)
Separations
The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.2 percent in September. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In September, the total separations rate did not increase significantly in any industry but did decrease in education and health ser- vices. Geographically, the separations rate did not change significantly in any region over the month. (See table 3.)
Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and dis- charges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including retire- ments). The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers' ability to change jobs, edged down to 1.8 percent in September. Over the month, the quits rate did not rise significantly in any industry or region but declined in leisure and hospitality and in the South region. In September, the sea- sonally adjusted quits rate was highest in the leisure and hospitality in- dustry (3.6 percent), which also had the highest hires rate. (See table 4.)
Over the year, the quits rate fell in many industries and in three of the four regions--the Midwest, South, and West. The quits rate rose significantly over the year in only one industry: real estate and rental and leasing. (See table 8.)
The other two components of total separations--layoffs and discharges, and other separations--are not seasonally adjusted. From September 2005 to Septem- ber 2006, the layoffs and discharges rate fell to 1.3 percent. For September 2006, the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry had the highest layoffs and discharges rate (12.5 percent). From September 2005 to September 2006, the other separations rate was little changed at 0.2 percent. (See tables 9 and 10.)
Flows in the Labor Market
Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the 12 months ending in September 2006, hires have averaged 4.9 million per month and separations have averaged 4.5 million per month (not seasonally adjusted). The comparable figures for the prior 12-month period were 4.8 mil- lion hires and 4.6 million separations. (See the Technical Note for additio- nal 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 2006 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, December 12, 2006.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Original release Nov 7, 2006.
Archived Nov 11, 2026. Source reuse policy. Formatting has been adapted for reading; the source’s conclusions remain attributed to its publisher.