US Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary for November

On Tuesday, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the results of its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for November. As of the last business day in November, the number of job openings was 8.1 million. Year-over-year, the measure was down 833,000. The job openings rate was 4.8%, little changed from 4.6% in October.

The number of hires changed little at 5.3 million but was down by 300,000 over the year. The hires rate changed little at 3.3%.

The number of total separations was little changed at 5.1 million but was down by 287,000 over the year. The total separations rate changed little at 3.2%.

The number of quits decreased by 218,000 to 3.1 million and declined by 451,000 over the year. Over the month, the quits rate decreased to 1.9%.

The number of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.8 million but was up by 219,000 over the year. The rate remained unchanged at 1.1%.

The number of other separations changed little at 296,000.

In November, the layoffs, and discharges rate for establishments with 1 to 9 employees decreased, while the job openings, hires, total separations, and quits rates showed little change. For establishments with 5,000 or more employees, the job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, and total separations rates showed little or no change.

Revisions

Monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.

The number of job openings for October was revised up by 95,000 to 7.8 million; the number of hires was revised up by 81,000 to 5.4 million; and the number of total separations was revised up by 45,000 to 5.3 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised down by 43,000 to 3.3 million, and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised up by 115,000 to 1.7 million.


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