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BLS Report: Number of job openings, hires, and total separations change little in December
People come; people go.
This is JOLTS, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. It used to come out a few days after the monthly payroll employment report, but now it shows up when it shows up.
The number of quits indicates how confident people are of finding another job if they leave the one they have.
Number of job openings, hires, and total separations change little in December
Economic News Release USDL-24-0143
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary
For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Technical information: (202) 691-5870 • JoltsInfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/jlt
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov
JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – DECEMBER 2023
The number of job openings changed little at 9.0 million on the last business day of December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, the number of hires and total separations were little changed at 5.6 million and 5.4 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.4 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.6 million) changed little. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by industry, and by establishment size class.
Job Openings
On the last business day of December, the number of job openings changed little at 9.0 million; this measure is down from a series high of 12.0 million in March 2022. Over the month, the rate was unchanged at 5.4 percent. Job openings increased in professional and business services (+239,000) but decreased in wholesale trade (-83,000). (See table 1.)
Hires
In December, the number and rate of hires were little changed at 5.6 million and 3.6 percent, respectively. The number of hires decreased in health care and social assistance (-119,000) but increased in state and local government, excluding education (+35,000). (See table 2.)
Separations
Total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the employee. The quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs. Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer. Other separations include separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.
The number of total separations in December changed little at 5.4 million, and the rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent. Over the month, the number of total separations decreased in health care and social assistance (-91,000) but increased in wholesale trade (+39,000). (See table 3.)
In December, the number of quits changed little at 3.4 million, and the rate was unchanged at 2.2 percent. The number of quits decreased in health care and social assistance (-71,000) and in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-35,000). The number of quits increased in wholesale trade (+63,000). (See table 4.)
In December, the number of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.6 million, and the rate was 1.0 percent for the fourth month in a row. The number of layoffs and discharges increased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+43,000) and in state and local government, excluding education (+18,000). (See table 5.)
The number of other separations changed little in December at 358,000. (See table 6.)
Establishment Size Class
In December, the job openings, hires, and total separations rates changed little for establishments with 1 to 9 employees. The job openings rate increased for establishments with 5,000 or more employees. (See table 7.)
____________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for January 2024 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
{snip}
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary
For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Technical information: (202) 691-5870 • JoltsInfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/jlt
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov
JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – DECEMBER 2023
The number of job openings changed little at 9.0 million on the last business day of December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, the number of hires and total separations were little changed at 5.6 million and 5.4 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.4 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.6 million) changed little. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by industry, and by establishment size class.
Job Openings
On the last business day of December, the number of job openings changed little at 9.0 million; this measure is down from a series high of 12.0 million in March 2022. Over the month, the rate was unchanged at 5.4 percent. Job openings increased in professional and business services (+239,000) but decreased in wholesale trade (-83,000). (See table 1.)
Hires
In December, the number and rate of hires were little changed at 5.6 million and 3.6 percent, respectively. The number of hires decreased in health care and social assistance (-119,000) but increased in state and local government, excluding education (+35,000). (See table 2.)
Separations
Total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the employee. The quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs. Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer. Other separations include separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.
The number of total separations in December changed little at 5.4 million, and the rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent. Over the month, the number of total separations decreased in health care and social assistance (-91,000) but increased in wholesale trade (+39,000). (See table 3.)
In December, the number of quits changed little at 3.4 million, and the rate was unchanged at 2.2 percent. The number of quits decreased in health care and social assistance (-71,000) and in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-35,000). The number of quits increased in wholesale trade (+63,000). (See table 4.)
In December, the number of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.6 million, and the rate was 1.0 percent for the fourth month in a row. The number of layoffs and discharges increased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+43,000) and in state and local government, excluding education (+18,000). (See table 5.)
The number of other separations changed little in December at 358,000. (See table 6.)
Establishment Size Class
In December, the job openings, hires, and total separations rates changed little for establishments with 1 to 9 employees. The job openings rate increased for establishments with 5,000 or more employees. (See table 7.)
____________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for January 2024 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
{snip}
* * * * *
[center]Facilities for Sensory Impaired[/center]
Information from these releases will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200, Federal Relay Services: 1-800-877-8339.
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Some previous reports:
Wed Jan 3, 2024: BLS Report: Hires and total separations decrease in November; job openings change little
Tue Oct 4, 2022: BLS Report: August job openings decrease; hires and total separations change little (this one)
Tue Aug 30, 2022: BLS Report: July job openings change little; hires and total separations also change little
Tue Aug 30, 2022: Job vacancies rose in July, dashing Fed hopes for cooling (in LBN)
Tue Aug 2, 2022: U.S. job openings at nine-month low; labor market still tight (in LBN)
Wed Jul 6, 2022: BLS Report: May job openings decrease; hires and total separations change little
Wed Jun 1, 2022: BLS Report: April job openings decrease; layoffs and discharges edge down to series low
Tue May 3, 2022: BLS Report: March job openings and quits reach series highs; total separations edge up
Tue Mar 29, 2022: BLS Report: February job openings and total separations change little; hires edge up
Wed Mar 9, 2022: BLS Report: January job openings, hires, and total separations change little
Tue Feb 9, 2021: BLS Report: Job openings and total separations little changed in December; hires decrease
Tue Jan 4, 2022: Job openings reach 10.6 million in November as tight labor market persists
Wed Dec 8, 2021: BLS Report: October job openings increase, total separations edge down, and hires change little
Fri Nov 12, 2021: BLS Report: September job openings and hires little changed, quits at a series high
{snip the rest}
Related:
Wed Jan 27, 2021: BLS Report: Gross job losses 20.4 million and gross job gains 5.7 million in the 2nd quarter of 2020