JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: MAY 2007



On the last business day of May, there were 4.2 million job openings in

the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.9 percent, the Bureau of

Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The job

openings rate was unchanged in May, and the hires and total separations

rates were essentially unchanged. This release includes estimates of the

number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total non-

farm sector by industry and geographic region.





Job Openings



In May, the job openings rate was unchanged at 2.9 percent. Job openings

include only those jobs still open on the last business day of the month.

The job openings rate rose over the month in the accommodations and food ser-

vices industry. None of the regions experienced a significant over-the-month

change in the job openings rate. The seasonally adjusted job openings rate

was highest in May for the following industries: accommodations and food ser-

vices (4.2 percent), professional and business services (3.7 percent), and

education and health services (3.7 percent). (See table 1.)



Over the year, the job openings rate increased in construction; nondurable

goods manufacturing; health care and social assistance; and accommodations and

food services. The rate decreased in wholesale trade and retail trade. The

job openings rate did not change significantly over the year in any of the

regions. (See table 5.)



Hires



The hires rate was little changed at 3.6 percent in May. Hires are any

additions to the payroll during the month. In May, there were no significant

increases or decreases in the hires rate for any of the industries or regions.

The seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in May in accommodations and

food services (6.9 percent). (See table 2.)



From May 2006 to May 2007, the hires rate rose in finance and insurance;

accommodations and food services; and federal government. The hires rate

fell in durable goods manufacturing; information; professional and business

services; and health care and social assistance. The hires rate decreased

over the year in the Northeast region. (See table 6.)



Separations



The total separations, or turnover, rate was little changed at 3.2 percent

in May. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time

during the month. Over the month, none of the industries or regions experi-

enced a significant change in the separations rate. From May 2006 to May 2007,

the total separations rate increased in natural resources and mining and in

federal government. The total separations rate decreased in construction; trade,

transportation, and utilities; professional and business services; educational

services; and state and local government. Geographically, the total separations

rate fell over the year in both the Northeast and Midwest regions. (See tables

3 and 7.)



For More Information



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.





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The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for June 2007 is scheduled

to be issued on Wednesday, August 8.