Job Openings and Labor Turnover: April 2019

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 number of job openings was little changed at 7.4 million on the last business day of April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires edged up to 5.9 million, and separations were little changed at 5.6 million. Within separations, the quits rate was unchanged at 2.3 percent and the layoffs and discharges rate was little changed at 1.2 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 April, the job openings level was little changed at 7.4 million. The job openings rate was 4.7 percent. The number of job openings was little changed for total private and for government. The job openings level increased in federal government (+22,000) and educational services (+20,000). Job openings decreased in professional and business services (-172,000). The number of job openings was little changed in all four regions. (See table 1.)

Hires

The number of hires edged up to a series high of 5.9 million (+240,000) in April. The hires rate was 3.9 percent. The hires level edged up for total private (+217,000) and was little changed for government. Hires increased in real estate and rental and leasing (+34,000). The number of hires was little changed in all four regions. (See table 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 includes separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.

The number of total separations was little changed at 5.6 million in April. The total separations rate was 3.7 percent. The number of total separations was little changed for total private and for government. The total separations level increased in real estate and rental and leasing (+43,000) but decreased in federal government (-10,000). The number of total separations was little changed in all four regions. (See table 3.)

The number of quits was little changed in April at 3.5 million. The quits rate was 2.3 percent. The quits level was little changed for total private and for government. Quits increased in real estate and rental and leasing (+28,000) and in state and local government, excluding education (+13,000), but decreased in federal government (-8,000). The number of quits decreased in the Northeast region. (See table 4.)

The number of layoffs and discharges was little changed in April at 1.8 million. The layoffs and discharges rate was 1.2 percent. The layoffs and discharges level was little changed for total private and for government. The number of layoffs and discharges increased in real estate and rental and leasing (+15,000). The layoffs and discharges level was little changed in all four regions. (See table 5.)

The number of other separations was little changed in April. The other separations level was little changed for total private and for government. Other separations increased in accommodation and food services (+14,000). The number of other separations was little changed in all four regions. (See table 6.)

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 April, hires totaled 69.6 million and separations totaled 66.8 million, yielding a net employment gain of 2.8 million. These totals include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.