December job openings change little, hires and total separations decrease
Economic News Release USDL-22-0152
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary
For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, February 1, 2022
Technical information: (202) 691-5870 JoltsInfo@bls.gov www.bls.gov/jlt
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 PressOffice@bls.gov
JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER - DECEMBER 2021
The number of job openings was little changed at 10.9 million on the last business day of December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Hires and total separations decreased to 6.3 million and 5.9 million, respectively. Within separations, the quits rate was little changed at 2.9 percent. The layoffs and discharges rate was little changed at 0.8 percent, a series low. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by industry, by four geographic regions, and by establishment size class.
Job Openings
On the last business day of December, the number of job openings was little changed at 10.9 million. The job openings rate was unchanged at 6.8 percent. Job openings increased in several industries with the largest increases in accommodation and food services (+133,000), information (+40,000), and nondurable goods manufacturing and state and local government education (+31,000 each). Job openings decreased in finance and insurance (-89,000) and in wholesale trade (-48,000). The number of job openings was little changed in all four regions. (See table 1.)
Hires
In December, the number of hires decreased to 6.3 million (-333,000). The hires rate was little changed at 4.2 percent. Hires decreased in professional and business services (-159,000). Hires decreased in the West region. (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.
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The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for January 2022 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
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