Job openings exceed new hires by a whopping 1.352 million. What’s it mean?
The BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover (JOLTS) shows openings reached a series high of 7.1 million.
Job Openings
On the last business day of August, the job openings level reached a series high of 7.1 million. The job openings rate was 4.6 percent. The number of job openings was little changed for total nonfarm, total private, and government. Job openings increased in federal government (+15,000). The number of job openings was little changed in all four regions.
Hires
The number of hires in August reached a series high of 5.8 million. The hires rate was 3.9 percent. The number of hires was little changed for total nonfarm, total private, and government. Hires were little changed in all industries and in all four regions.
Separations
Total separations includes quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Total separations is referred to as turnover. 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 includes separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.
The number of total separations was little changed at 5.7 million in August. The total separations rate was 3.8 percent. The number of total separations was little changed for total private and for government. Total separations increased in state and local government education (+20,000). Total separations was little changed in all four regions.
Quits
The number of quits was little changed in August at 3.6 million. The quits rate was 2.4 percent. The number of quits was little changed for total private and for government. Quits increased in wholesale trade (+24,000) but decreased in professional and business services (-82,000). The number of quits was little changed in all four regions.
