Job Openings and Labor Turnover: November 2023

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 changed little at 8.8 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 decreased to 5.5 million and 5.3 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.5 million) edged down and layoffs and discharges (1.5 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 8.8 million; this measure is down from a series high of 12.0 million in March 2022. The job openings rate was unchanged at 5.3 percent. Over the month, job openings decreased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-128,000) and in federal government (-58,000). Job openings increased in wholesale trade (+63,000). (See table 1.)

Hires

In November, the number of hires decreased to 5.5 million (-363,000). The hires rate was little changed at 3.5 percent. The number of hires decreased in professional and business services (-163,000). (See table 2.)

Separations

Total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the employee. 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 include separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.

The number of total separations in November decreased to 5.3 million (-292,000), and the rate was little changed at 3.4 percent. Over the month, the number of total separations decreased in professional and business services (-158,000) and in educational services (-28,000). (See table 3.)

In November, the number of quits edged down to 3.5 million (-157,000). The rate was little changed at 2.2 percent. The number of quits decreased in professional and business services (-77,000) and in educational services (-23,000). (See table 4.)

In November, the number of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.5 million, and the rate was unchanged at 1.0 percent. The number of layoffs and discharges decreased in durable goods manufacturing (-18,000). (See table 5.)

The number of other separations changed little in November at 342,000. (See table 6.)

Establishment Size Class

In November, the job openings, hires, and total separations rates changed little for establishments with 1 to 9 employees. The quits rate and total separations rate increased for establishments with 5,000 or more employees. (See table 7.)