The number of job openings increased to 11.0 million on the last business day of December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, the number of hires and total separations changed little at 6.2 million and 5.9 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (4.1 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.5 million) changed little. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by industry, and by establishment size class.
Job Openings
On the last business day of December, the number and rate of job openings increased to 11.0 million and 6.7 percent, respectively. In December, the largest increases in job openings were in accommodation and food services (+409,000), retail trade (+134,000), and construction (+82,000). The number of job openings decreased in information (-107,000).
Hires
In December, the number and rate of hires changed little at 6.2 million and 4.0 percent, respectively. Hires changed little in all industries.
Separations
Total separations includes quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. 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.
In December, the number of total separations changed little at 5.9 million, and the rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. The number of total separations decreased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-67,000).
In December, the number of quits was little changed at 4.1 million, and the rate was unchanged at 2.7 percent. Quits decreased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-69,000) but increased in other services (+65,000).
In December, the number and rate of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.5 million and 1.0 percent, respectively. Layoffs and discharges decreased in finance and insurance (-43,000) but increased in federal government (+4,000).
The number of other separations was little changed in December at 336,000. Other separations increased in retail trade (+29,000) and in health care and social assistance (+19,000). Other separations decreased in state and local government, excluding education (-10,000) and in educational services (-6,000).
Establishment Size ClassIn December, the job openings rate increased in establishments with 50 to 249 employees but decreased in establishments with 5,000 or more employees. The total separations rate increased in establishments with 10 to 49 employees but decreased in establishments with 50 to 249 employees and 250 to 999 employees. The quits rate increased in establishments with 10 to 49 employees but decreased in establishments with 50 to 249 employees and 250 to 999 employees. For a more in-depth description of the JOLTS establishment size class estimates, please visit www.bls.gov/jlt/sizeclassmethodology.htm.
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for January 2023 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
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