Job Openings and Labor Turnover – November 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 10, 2012) — There were 3.2 million job openings on the last business day of November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The hires rate (3.2 percent) and separations rate (3.0 percent) were little changed over the month. The job openings rate has trended upward since the end of the recession in June 2009. (Recession dates are determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research.) This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the nonfarm sector by industry and by geographic region.
Job Openings
The number of job openings in November was 3.2 million, unchanged from October. Although the number of job openings remained below the 4.4 million openings when the recession began in December 2007, the level in November was 1.0 million higher than in July 2009 (the most recent trough for the series). The number of job openings has increased 30 percent since the end of the recession in June 2009.
The number of job openings in November (not seasonally adjusted) was little changed over the year for total nonfarm, total private, and government. Several industries saw increases in the number of job openings over the year, while the number of job openings decreased for finance and insurance, professional and business services, and federal government. The Midwest and South regions had increases in the number of job openings and the West experienced a decline over the year.
Hires
In November, the hires rate was little changed at 3.2 percent for total nonfarm. The hires rate was essentially unchanged over the month in all industries and regions. The number of hires in November was 4.1 million, up from 3.6 million in October 2009 (the most recent trough) but below the 5.0 million hires recorded when the recession began in December 2007. The number of hires has increased by 15 percent since the end of the recession in June 2009.
Over the past 12 months, the hires rate (not seasonally adjusted) was little changed for total nonfarm, total private, and government. The hires rate increased over the year in arts, entertainment, and recreation and was essentially unchanged in every other industry. The hires rate was essentially unchanged in all four regions.
Separations
The total separations figure includes voluntary quits, involuntary layoffs and discharges, and other separations, including retirements. Total separations is also referred to as turnover.
The seasonally adjusted total separations rate was little changed in November for total nonfarm, total private, and government. Over the year, the total separations rate (not seasonally adjusted) also was little changed for total nonfarm, total private, and government.
The quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to change jobs. In November, the quits rate was little changed for total nonfarm, total private, and government. The number of quits rose from 1.5 million in January 2010 (the most recent trough) to 2.0 million in November, although it remained below the 2.8 million recorded when the recession began in December 2007.
The number of quits (not seasonally adjusted) in November 2011 rose for total nonfarm over the year, but was little changed for total private and government. No industries or regions experienced a significant change in the number of quits over the year.
The layoffs and discharges component of total separations is seasonally adjusted only at the total nonfarm, total private, and government levels. The layoffs and discharges rate was essentially unchanged in November 2011 for total nonfarm, total private, and government. The number of layoffs and discharges for total nonfarm was 1.7 million in November, down from a peak of 2.5 million in February 2009. For the 16 months ending in November 2011, the number of layoffs and discharges has been at or below 1.8 million—the level at the start
of the recession.
The layoffs and discharges level (not seasonally adjusted) for total nonfarm and total private was little changed over the 12 months ending in November 2011, while the number of layoffs and discharges for government declined. Over the year, the number of layoffs and discharges declined for nondurable goods manufacturing, federal government, and state and local government. The number of layoffs and discharges increased in arts, entertainment, and recreation over the
year. All four regions experienced little change in the number of layoffs and discharges.
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