Job Openings and Labor Turnover: September 2024

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 September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires changed little at 5.6 million. The number of total separations was unchanged at 5.2 million. Within separations, quits (3.1 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.8 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

The number of job openings was little changed at 7.4 million on the last business day of September but was down by 1.9 million over the year. The job openings rate, at 4.5 percent, changed little over the month. The number of job openings decreased in health care and social assistance (-178,000); state and local government, excluding education (-79,000); and federal government (-28,000) but increased in finance and insurance (+85,000). (See table 1.)

Hires

In September, the number and rate of hires changed little at 5.6 million and 3.5 percent, respectively. (See table 2.)

Separations

Total separations include 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 include separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.

The number of total separations in September was unchanged at 5.2 million but was down by 326,000 over the year. The total separations rate was unchanged at 3.3 percent over the month. (See table 3.)

In September, the number of quits changed little at 3.1 million but was down by 525,000 over the year. Over the month, the quits rate was little changed at 1.9 percent. Quits decreased in professional and business services (-94,000) but increased in state and local government, excluding education (+22,000) and in real estate and rental and leasing (+18,000). (See table 4.)

In September, the number of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.8 million but increased by 238,000 over the year. The layoffs and discharges rate increased to 1.2 percent in September. Layoffs and discharges increased in durable goods manufacturing (+46,000) but decreased in state and local government, excluding education (-20,000). (See table 5.)

The number of other separations changed little at 292,000 in September. (See table 6.)

Establishment Size Class

In September, establishments with 1 to 9 employees showed little or no change in job openings, hires, quits, and total separations rates, while the layoffs and discharges rate increased. For establishments with 5,000 or more employees, the job openings, hires, and total separations rates showed little or no change. (See table 7.)

August 2024 Revisions

The number of job openings for August was revised down by 179,000 to 7.9 million, the number of hires was revised up by 118,000 to 5.4 million, and the number of total separations was revised up by 171,000 to 5.2 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised up by 94,000 to 3.2 million, and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised up by 60,000 to 1.7 million. (Monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.)