Job Openings and Labor Turnover: July 2004

Historical release narrative reproduced from the official public-domain source. Statistical tables, standard technical appendices, administrative material and attendance rosters are omitted; formatting is adapted for reading. Figures retain the release's historical context and may have been revised. Consult the linked source for the complete document.

The hires rate fell in July but remained above the separations rate, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The hires rate was 3.2 percent in July, and the separations rate was 3.1 percent. The job openings rate edged up to 2.4 percent. This report includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region.

Job Openings

On the last business day of July 2004, there were 3.2 million job openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.4 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate continued to remain in the range of 2.0 to 2.4 percent, as it has since October 2001. In July, the job open- ings rate increased in the trade, transportation, and utilities industry group and continued on an upward trend in leisure and hospitality. The job openings rate edged down in government and showed little or no change for the other major industry categories in July.

Hires and Separations

The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by employment) was 3.2 percent in July, down from 3.4 percent a month ago. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. The hires rate decreased in construction and edged down in government (including federal, state, and local) over the month, while other major industries showed little or no change in their hires rates. The hires rates in the Midwest and West decreased from a month ago.

The total separations, or turnover, rate (the number of separations during the month divided by employment) was 3.1 percent in July, unchanged from the month before. The total separations rate has been relatively unchanged since December 2001, ranging from 2.9 percent to 3.3 percent. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. (See table 3.) In July, the total separations rate showed little or no change for all major industry categories.

Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and discharges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including retirements). The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers' ability to change jobs, was unchanged at 1.7 percent in July. (See table 4.) The quits rate increased in education and health services over the month. The other two components of total separations, layoffs and discharges (1.1 percent) and other separations (0.2 percent), are not seasonally adjusted. (See tables 9 and 10.)

Hires and separations help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.2 million per month and separations have averaged 4.0 million per month. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.) For More Information

For additional information, please see the Technical Note or the JOLTS Web site at www.bls.gov/jlt/. Additional information about JOLTS also may be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling (202) 691-5870.