• Job Openings Decline in July

    The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that job openings lowered to 8.8 million

    On Tuesday, the number of job openings edged down to 8.8 million on the last business day of July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Over the month, the number of hires and total separations changed little at 5.8 million and 5.5 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.5 million) decreased, while layoffs and discharges (1.6 million) changed little.

    Job Openings

    • On the last business day of July, the number of job openings edged down to 8.8 million (-338,000), while the rate changed little at 5.3%.
    • Over the month, job openings decreased in professional and business services (-198,000); health care and social assistance (-130,000); state and local government, excluding education (-67,000); state and local government education (-62,000); and federal government (-27,000).
    • By contrast, job openings increased in information (+101,000) and in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+75,000).

    Separations

    Total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. 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 include separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.

    The number and rate of total separations in July were little changed at 5.5 million and 3.5%, respectively. Over the month, the number of total separations decreased in accommodation and food services (-132,000).

    In July, the number of quits decreased to 3.5 million (-253,000), while the rate changed little at 2.3%. The number of quits declined in accommodation and food services (-166,000); wholesale trade (-27,000); and arts, entertainment, and recreation (-17,000). The number of quits increased in state and local government education (+18,000).

    In July, the number of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.6 million, and the rate held at 1.0%. The number of layoffs and discharges changed little in all industries.

    The number of other separations was little changed in July at 378,000.

    Establishment Size Class

    In July, establishments with 1 to 9 employees saw little change in all data elements. Establishments with more than 5,000 employees had decreases in their quits rates and total separations rates.

  • Number of Job Openings Drops for 3rd Month to Lowest Level in 2 Years

    The number of job openings decreased to 9.6 million on the last business day of March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the month, the number of hires and total separations were little changed at 6.1 million and 5.9 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.9 million) changed little, while layoffs and discharges (1.8 million) increased. 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 March, the number of job openings decreased to 9.6 million (-384,000) and was 1.6 million lower than in December. The job openings rate was 5.8% in March and was down by 1.0 percentage point since December. In March, job openings decreased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-144,000) but increased in educational services (+28,000).

    Hires

    In March, the number of hires was little changed at 6.1 million, and the rate held at 4.0%. Hires decreased in real estate and rental and leasing (-29,000).

    Separations

    The number of total separations changed little at 5.9 million in March, and the rate was 3.8% for the fourth month in a row. Over the month, the number of total separations decreased in accommodation and food services (-107,000) but increased in construction (+104,000).

    In March, the number and rate of quits changed little at 3.9 million and 2.5%, respectively. The number of quits decreased in accommodation and food services (-178,000). In March, the number and rate of layoffs and discharges increased to 1.8 million (+248,000) and 1.2%, respectively. Layoffs and discharges increased in construction (+112,000), accommodation and food services (+63,000), and health care and social assistance (+42,000).

    The number of other separations was little changed in March at 276,000. Other separations decreased in finance and insurance (-31,000) and in real estate and rental and leasing (-7,000).

    Sources: bls.gov