Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey for May 2021

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) today (7-7-21) reported its Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for May 2021. According to the JOLTS report, as of the last business day in May, the number and rate of job openings was little changed at 9.2 million. The job openings rate was unchanged at 6.0%. In April, it was at a series high of 9.3 million. Hires were little changed at 5.9 million or +4.1%. Total separations decreased in May, to 5.3 million (-485,000) and 3.7%. In May, the quits level and rate decreased to 3.6 million and 2.5% respectively. The layoffs and discharge rate was little changed at 1.4 million and decreased to a series low of 0.9%. 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 May, hires totaled 73.0 million and separations totaled 64.8 million, yielding a net employment gain of 8.2 million. These totals include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.