Job Openings and Labor Turnover: November 2005

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 job openings, hires, and total separations rates were all little changed in November, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This release 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 November 2005, there were 3.9 million job openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.8 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate did not change significantly in November, but has generally trended upward since September 2003. In November, the job openings rate increased in manufacturing and in the West region, but decreased in professional and business services and in the Northeast region.

Hires and Separations

The hires rate was little changed at 3.4 percent in November. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. Over the month, the hires rate decreased in manufacturing, but did not change significantly in any region.

The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.2 percent in November. (See table 3.) Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In November, the total separa- tions rate did not change significantly in any industry. Geographically, the total separations rate increased in the Midwest but decreased in the Northeast.

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 1.9 percent in November. (See table 4.) The quits rate did not change significantly in any industry. Geographically, the rate increased in the Midwest.

The other two components of total separations--layoffs and discharges, and other separations--are not seasonally adjusted. In November, the layoffs and discharges rate, at 1.1 percent, was little changed over the year, and the other separations rate was unchanged at 0.2 percent. (See tables 9 and 10.)

Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.7 million per month and separations have averaged 4.5 million per month (not seasonally adjusted). The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.5 million hires and 4.2 mil- lion separations. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.)

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

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for December 2005 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, February 7, 2006.