Job Openings and Labor Turnover: December 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 9.0 million on the last business day of December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, the number of hires and total separations were little changed at 5.6 million and 5.4 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.4 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.6 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 December, the number of job openings changed little at 9.0 million; this measure is down from a series high of 12.0 million in March 2022. Over the month, the rate was unchanged at 5.4 percent. Job openings increased in professional and business services (+239,000) but decreased in wholesale trade (-83,000). (See table 1.)

Hires

In December, the number and rate of hires were little changed at 5.6 million and 3.6 percent, respectively. The number of hires decreased in health care and social assistance (-119,000) but increased in state and local government, excluding education (+35,000). (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 December changed little at 5.4 million, and the rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent. Over the month, the number of total separations decreased in health care and social assistance (-91,000) but increased in wholesale trade (+39,000). (See table 3.)

In December, the number of quits changed little at 3.4 million, and the rate was unchanged at 2.2 percent. The number of quits decreased in health care and social assistance (-71,000) and in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-35,000). The number of quits increased in wholesale trade (+63,000). (See table 4.)

In December, the number of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.6 million, and the rate was 1.0 percent for the fourth month in a row. The number of layoffs and discharges increased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+43,000) and in state and local government, excluding education (+18,000). (See table 5.)

The number of other separations changed little in December at 358,000. (See table 6.)

Establishment Size Class

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