Job Openings and Labor Turnover: November 2022

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 10.5 million on the last business day of November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, the number of hires and total separations changed little at 6.1 million and 5.9 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (4.2 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.4 million) changed little. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by industry, and by establishment size class.

Job Openings

On the last business day of November, the number of job openings changed little at 10.5 million. The rate was unchanged at 6.4 percent but was 0.9 percentage points lower than its peak in March 2022. In November, job openings increased in professional and business services (+212,000) and in nondurable goods manufacturing (+39,000). The number of job openings decreased in finance and insurance (-75,000) and in federal government (-44,000). (See table 1.)

Hires

In November, the number and rate of hires changed little at 6.1 million and 3.9 percent, respectively. Hires increased in health care and social assistance (+74,000). (See table 2.)

Separations

Total separations includes quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. 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.

In November, the number of total separations changed little at 5.9 million, and the rate held at 3.8 percent. The number of total separations increased in health care and social assistance (+99,000) and in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+76,000). (See table 3.)

In November, the number and rate of quits were little changed at 4.2 million and 2.7 percent, respectively. Quits increased in health care and social assistance (+82,000); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+73,000); and information (+19,000). (See table 4.)

In November, the number of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.4 million, and the rate remained at 0.9 percent. Layoffs and discharges increased in finance and insurance (+19,000). (See table 5.)

The number of other separations increased in November to 347,000 (+83,000). Other separations increased in professional and business services (+49,000). (See table 6.)

Establishment Size Class

In November, the total separations rate increased in establishments with 50 to 249 employees. The quits rate increased in establishments with 1 to 9 employees. For a more in-depth description of the JOLTS establishment size class estimates, please visit www.bls.gov/jlt/sizeclassmethodology.htm.