November 09, 2005 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Job openings in September 2005

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.

[Chart data—TXT]

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.

These data come from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. The above data are seasonally adjusted. Data for September 2005 are preliminary. Find additional information in "Job Openings and Labor Turnover: September 2005" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 05-2144. 

Note: Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck Florida and the Gulf Coast, potentially affecting estimates for August and September. While JOLTS does not produce data at the detailed local level, some effect of the storms may be reflected in the JOLTS estimates.