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BLS Report: Job openings fall to 6.8 million in November; hires and separations little changed
People come; people go.
This is JOLTS, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. It comes out a few days after the monthly payroll employment report.
The number of quits indicates how confident people are of finding another job if they leave the one they have.
Job openings fall to 6.8 million in November; hires and separations little changed
Economic News Release USDL-20-0048
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary
For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Friday, January 17, 2020
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 – NOVEMBER 2019
The number of job openings fell to 6.8 million (-561,000) on the last business day of November, the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires and separations were little
changed at 5.8 million and 5.6 million, respectively. Within separations, the quits rate was unchanged at
2.3 percent and the layoffs and discharges rate was little changed at 1.1 percent. This release includes
estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the nonfarm sector by
industry and by four geographic regions.
Job Openings
On the last business day of November, the total nonfarm job openings level fell to 6.8 million
(-561,000). The job openings rate decreased to 4.3 percent. The job openings level decreased for total
private (-520,000) and edged down for government (-42,000). The largest decreases in job openings
were in retail trade (-139,000) and construction (-112,000). The number of job openings fell in the South
and Midwest regions. (See table 1.)
Hires
The number of total nonfarm hires was little changed at 5.8 million in November. The hires rate was
unchanged at 3.8 percent. The hires level was little changed in all industries and regions. (See table 2.)
Separations
Total separations includes quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Total separations is
referred to as turnover. Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the employee. Therefore,
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 includes separations
due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.
In November, the number of total nonfarm total separations was little changed at 5.6 million and the
rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent. The number of total separations increased in retail trade (+103,000).
Total separations decreased in other services (-53,000) and in federal government (-13,000). The total
separations level was little changed in all four regions. (See table 3.)
The number of total nonfarm quits was little changed in November at 3.5 million and the rate was
unchanged at 2.3 percent. Quits increased in retail trade (+118,000), wholesale trade (+26,000), and
nondurable goods manufacturing (+19,000). Quits decreased in other services (-63,000). The number of
quits increased in the South region. (See table 4.)
The number and rate of total nonfarm layoffs and discharges were little changed in November at 1.7
million and 1.1 percent, respectively. The layoffs and discharges level was little changed for total private
and edged down for government (-22,000). The number of layoffs and discharges decreased in federal
government (-14,000). The layoffs and discharges level was little changed in all four regions. (See table
5.)
The number of total nonfarm other separations was little changed in November. Other separations
decreased in accommodation and food services (-13,000), real estate and rental and leasing (-5,000), and
state and local government education (-5,000). The number of other separations was little changed in all
four regions. (See table 6.)
Net Change in Employment
Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month throughout the business cycle. Net
employment change results from the relationship between hires and separations. When the number of
hires exceeds the number of separations, employment rises, even if the hires level is steady or declining.
Conversely, when the number of hires is less than the number of separations, employment declines, even
if the hires level is steady or rising.
Over the 12 months ending in November, hires totaled 69.8 million and separations totaled 67.5 million,
yielding a net employment gain of 2.3 million. These totals include workers who may have been hired
and separated more than once during the year.
____________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for December 2019 are scheduled to be
released on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (EST).
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary
For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Friday, January 17, 2020
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 – NOVEMBER 2019
The number of job openings fell to 6.8 million (-561,000) on the last business day of November, the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires and separations were little
changed at 5.8 million and 5.6 million, respectively. Within separations, the quits rate was unchanged at
2.3 percent and the layoffs and discharges rate was little changed at 1.1 percent. This release includes
estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the nonfarm sector by
industry and by four geographic regions.
Job Openings
On the last business day of November, the total nonfarm job openings level fell to 6.8 million
(-561,000). The job openings rate decreased to 4.3 percent. The job openings level decreased for total
private (-520,000) and edged down for government (-42,000). The largest decreases in job openings
were in retail trade (-139,000) and construction (-112,000). The number of job openings fell in the South
and Midwest regions. (See table 1.)
Hires
The number of total nonfarm hires was little changed at 5.8 million in November. The hires rate was
unchanged at 3.8 percent. The hires level was little changed in all industries and regions. (See table 2.)
Separations
Total separations includes quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Total separations is
referred to as turnover. Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the employee. Therefore,
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 includes separations
due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.
In November, the number of total nonfarm total separations was little changed at 5.6 million and the
rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent. The number of total separations increased in retail trade (+103,000).
Total separations decreased in other services (-53,000) and in federal government (-13,000). The total
separations level was little changed in all four regions. (See table 3.)
The number of total nonfarm quits was little changed in November at 3.5 million and the rate was
unchanged at 2.3 percent. Quits increased in retail trade (+118,000), wholesale trade (+26,000), and
nondurable goods manufacturing (+19,000). Quits decreased in other services (-63,000). The number of
quits increased in the South region. (See table 4.)
The number and rate of total nonfarm layoffs and discharges were little changed in November at 1.7
million and 1.1 percent, respectively. The layoffs and discharges level was little changed for total private
and edged down for government (-22,000). The number of layoffs and discharges decreased in federal
government (-14,000). The layoffs and discharges level was little changed in all four regions. (See table
5.)
The number of total nonfarm other separations was little changed in November. Other separations
decreased in accommodation and food services (-13,000), real estate and rental and leasing (-5,000), and
state and local government education (-5,000). The number of other separations was little changed in all
four regions. (See table 6.)
Net Change in Employment
Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month throughout the business cycle. Net
employment change results from the relationship between hires and separations. When the number of
hires exceeds the number of separations, employment rises, even if the hires level is steady or declining.
Conversely, when the number of hires is less than the number of separations, employment declines, even
if the hires level is steady or rising.
Over the 12 months ending in November, hires totaled 69.8 million and separations totaled 67.5 million,
yielding a net employment gain of 2.3 million. These totals include workers who may have been hired
and separated more than once during the year.
____________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for December 2019 are scheduled to be
released on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (EST).
* * * * *
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