Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey for March 2021

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) today (5-11-21) reported its Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for March 2021. According to the JOLTS report, as of the last business day in March, the number and rate of job openings reached a series high of 8.1 million (+597,000) or +5.3%. Hires were little changed at 6.0 million or +4.2%. Total separations were little changed at 5.3 million or 3.7%. Within separations, the quit rate was unchanged at 2.4%, while the layoffs and discharges rate decreased to a series low of 1.0%. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by industry, and by four geographic regions. Over the 12 months ending in March, hires totaled 73.2 million and separations totaled 69.9 million, yielding a net employment gain of +3.3 million. These totals include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.