The number of job openings decreased to 7.0 million on the last business day of September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires and separations were both little changed at 5.7 million. Within separations, the quits rate was unchanged at 2.4 percent and the layoffs and discharges rate was little changed at 1.1 percent.
This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the nonfarm sector by industry and by four geographic regions. Job Openings On the last business day of September, the job openings level fell to 7.0 million (-284,000), after reaching a revised series high of 7.3 million in August. The job openings rate was 4.5 percent in September. The number of job openings edged down for total private (-188,000) and fell in government (-96,000).
Job openings increased in health care and social assistance (+71,000). The number of job openings decreased in many industries, with the largest decreases in professional and business services (-118,000), finance and insurance (-82,000), and state and local government, excluding education (-67,000). Job openings decreased in the South region.
Hires The number of hires in September was little changed at 5.7 million, after reaching a revised series high of 5.9 million in August. The hires rate was 3.8 percent in September. The number of hires was little changed for total private and for government. Hires were little changed in all industries. Hires decreased in the West region.
Hires and total separations rates, seasonally adjusted, September 2015 - September 2018 - 2 - 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 include 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 September.
The total separations rate was 3.8 percent. The number of total separations was little changed for total private and edged down for government (-28,000). Total separations decreased in state and local government education (-21,000). The number of total separations decreased in the West region.
The number of quits was little changed in September 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 educational services (+15,000), but decreased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-20,000) and state and local government education (-10,000). The number of quits decreased in the West region.
The number of layoffs and discharges was little changed in September at 1.7 million. The layoffs and discharges rate was 1.1 percent. The number of layoffs and discharges was little changed for total private and edged down for government (-19,000). The number of layoffs and discharges was little changed in all industries and regions.
The number of other separations was little changed in September at 365,000. The other separations level was little changed for total private and for government. Other separations increased in professional and business services (+22,000) but decreased in state and local government education (-7,000). The number of other separations increased in the Midwest region.
Net Change in Employment Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month throughout the business cycle. Net employment change results from the relationship between hires and separations. When the number of hires exceeds the number of separations, employment rises, even if the hires level is steady or declining. Conversely, when the number of hires is less than the number of separations, employment declines, even if the hires level is steady or rising.
Over the 12 months ending in September, hires totaled 67.5 million and separations totaled 65.1 million, yielding a net employment gain of 2.5 million. These totals include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey results for October 2018 are scheduled to be released on Monday, December 10, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. (EST).
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