Job Openings and Labor Turnover: February 2025

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 7.6 million in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires and total separations held at 5.4 million and 5.3 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.2 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 include all positions that are open on the last business day of the month. Hires and separations include all changes to the payroll during the entire month.

Job Openings

The number of job openings was little changed at 7.6 million in February but was down by 877,000 over the year. The job openings rate, at 4.5 percent, changed little over the month. The number of job openings decreased in finance and insurance (-80,000). (See table 1.)

Hires

In February, the number and rate of hires were unchanged at 5.4 million and 3.4 percent, respectively. The number of hires was little changed in all industries in February. (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 and rate of total separations in February were unchanged at 5.3 million and 3.3 percent, respectively. Total separations increased in state and local government education (+32,000) and in federal government (+11,000). (See table 3.)

In February, the number of quits was little changed at 3.2 million but was down by 273,000 over the year. Over the month, the quits rate was unchanged at 2.0 percent. Quits increased in state and local government education (+28,000). (See table 4.)

In February, the number of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.8 million. The layoffs and discharges rate was unchanged at 1.1 percent. Layoffs and discharges increased in retail trade (+67,000), real estate and rental and leasing (+24,000), and federal government (+18,000). Layoffs and discharges decreased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-42,000). (See table 5.)

The number of other separations decreased 67,000 to 275,000 in February. (See table 6.)

Establishment Size Class

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

January 2025 Revisions

The number of job openings for January was revised up by 22,000 to 7.8 million, the number of hires was revised down by 22,000 to 5.4 million, and the number of total separations was revised up by 20,000 to 5.3 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised down by 10,000 to 3.3 million, and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised up by 39,000 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.)