Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey for November 2020

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has posted its Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for November 2020. According to the JOLTS report the number of job openings dropped from 6.7 in October to 6.5 million in November, which is a rate of 4.4%, as of the last business day of November. Hires were at 6.0 million while separations increased to 5.4 million. Within separations, the quits rate was little changed at 2.2%, while the layoffs and discharges rate increase to 1.4%. Over the year, the number of job openings in November (not seasonally adjusted) was little change in November Job openings decreased in a number of industries with the largest decreases in accommodation and food services, transportation, warehousing, utilities and informational services. The job openings levels did increase in nondurable goods manufacturing and in other services. Over the 12 months ending in November, hires totaled 70.7 million and separations totaled 75.9 million, yielding a net employment loss of -5.2 million. These totals include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.