Job Openings and Labor Turnover: May 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 7.3 million on the last business day of May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires fell to 5.7 million and separations edged down to 5.5 million. Within separations, the quits and the layoffs and discharges rates were unchanged at 2.3 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively. 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 May, the job openings level was little changed at 7.3 million. The job openings rate was 4.6 percent. The number of job openings was little changed for total private and decreased for government (-54,000). The job openings level increased in other services (+77,000). Job openings decreased in a number of industries with the largest decreases in construction (-65,000), transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-60,000), and real estate and rental and leasing (-49,000). The number of job openings increased in the Northeast region. (See table 1.)

Hires

The number of hires decreased to 5.7 million (-266,000) in May. The hires rate was 3.8 percent. The hires level fell for total private (-262,000) and was little changed for government. Hires decreased in professional and business services (-129,000). 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 edged down to 5.5 million (-192,000) in May. The total separations rate was 3.6 percent. The number of total separations edged down for total private (-204,000) and was little changed for government. The total separations level decreased in professional and business services (-95,000). The number of total separations decreased in the South region. (See table 3.)

The number of quits was little changed in May at 3.4 million. The quits rate was 2.3 percent. The quits level edged down for total private (-117,000) and increased for government (+25,000). Quits decreased in professional and business services (-92,000) and real estate and rental and leasing (-16,000), but increased in state and local government education (+18,000). The number of quits decreased in the South region. (See table 4.)

The number of layoffs and discharges was little changed in May 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 arts, entertainment, and recreation (+36,000). The layoffs and discharges level fell in the South region. (See table 5.)

The number of other separations was little changed in May. The other separations level was little changed for total private and for government. Other separations decreased in professional and business services (-26,000), information (-10,000), and nondurable goods manufacturing (-7,000). The other separations level increased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+8,000). The number of other separations fell in the West region. (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 May, hires totaled 69.5 million and separations totaled 66.9 million, yielding a net employment gain of 2.6 million. These totals include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.