Approximately 40 million job separations took place in the U.S. economy in 1984.  Of all jobs held in 1984, 3 in 10 came to an end or to an interruption point that same year.  Slightly more than a third of all separations might be termed involuntary because the worker was laid off or discharged or because the worker had taken a temporary job that ended.  About 5 percent of all jobs held in 1984 ended or were interrupted that same year by a layoff.  Another 1 percent of all jobs ended because the employee was fired, and 6 percent ended because they were temporary.  On the voluntary side, about 1 percent of all jobs ended with the retirement of the worker, and 17 percent ended because an employee quit to take another job or for some other reason.