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

Separations in July 2005

The total separations, or turnover, rate decreased from 3.4 to 3.1 percent in July.

[Chart data—TXT]

In July, the total separations rate decreased in the professional and business services industry and in the South region.

Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. 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 1.8 percent in July. The quits rate decreased in the professional and business services industry and in the West region in July.

These data are from the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. To learn more about job openings, hires, and separations see Job Openings and Labor Turnover: July 2005 (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 05-1674. The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.