BLS U S Bureau of Labor Statistics : Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, January 12, 2021	USDL-21-0023
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JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER - NOVEMBER 2020

The number of job openings was little changed at 6.5 million on the last business day of November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Hires were little changed at 6.0 million while total separations increased to 5.4 million. Within separations, the quits rate was unchanged at 2.2 percent while the layoffs and discharges rate increased to 1.4 percent. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by industry, and by four geographic regions.

Job Openings

On the last business day of November, the number and rate of job openings were little changed at 6.5 million and 4.4 percent, respectively. Job openings decreased in durable goods manufacturing (-48,000), information (-45,000), and educational services (-21,000). The number of job openings was little changed in all four regions. (See table 1.)

Over the year, the number of job openings (not seasonally adjusted) was little changed in November. Job openings decreased in a number of industries over the year with the largest decreases in accommodation and food services; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; and information. The job openings level

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on November 2020 JOLTS Data

Data collection for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey was affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. More information is available at the end of this news release and at www.bls.gov/covid19/job-openings-and-labor-turnover-covid19-november-2020.htm.

increased in nondurable goods manufacturing and in other services. The number of job openings was little changed in all four regions. (See table 7.)

Hires

In November, the number of hires was little changed at 6.0 million, and the hires rate was unchanged at

4.2 percent. Hires increased in professional and business services (+175,000) and mining and logging (+13,000). Hires decreased in accommodation and food services (-73,000), other services (-67,000), and information (-43,000). The number of hires was little changed in all four regions. (See table 2.)

The number of hires in November (not seasonally adjusted) was little changed over the year. Hires increased in professional and business services; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; and nondurable goods manufacturing. Hires decreased in accommodation and food services and in information. The number of hires increased in the South region. (See table 8.)

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.

In November, the number of total separations increased to 5.4 million (+271,000). The total separations rate was little changed at 3.8 percent. Total separations increased in accommodation and food services (+326,000). The total separations level decreased in federal government (-70,000) and real estate and rental and leasing (-27,000). Total separations increased in the West region. (See table 3.)

Over the year, the number of total separations (not seasonally adjusted) was little changed. Total separations increased in accommodation and food services and in federal government. Total separations decreased in retail trade and in arts, entertainment, and recreation. The number of total separations was little changed in all four regions. (See table 9.)

In November, the number of quits was little changed at 3.2 million, and the quits rate was unchanged at

2.2 percent. Quits increased in accommodation and food services (+64,000). The quits level decreased in health care and social assistance (-52,000), real estate and rental and leasing (-17,000), and federal government (-6,000). The number of quits was little changed in all four regions. (See table 4.)

Over the year, the number of quits (not seasonally adjusted) decreased to 2.7 million (-241,000). Quits declined in several industries, with the largest decreases in retail trade; arts, entertainment, and recreation; and finance and insurance. Quits increased in durable goods manufacturing and in federal government. The number of quits decreased in the West region. (See table 10.)

The number and rate of layoffs and discharges increased to 2.0 million (+295,000) and 1.4 percent, respectively in November. The number of layoffs and discharges increased in accommodation and food services (+263,000), health care and social assistance (+42,000), and state and local government, excluding education (+21,000). Layoffs and discharges decreased in federal government (-54,000), but the overall level remained high due to the continued release of 2020 temporary Census workers in November. Layoffs and discharges increased in the West region. (See table 5.)

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Over the year, the layoffs and discharges level (not seasonally adjusted) increased to 2.0 million (+201,000). Layoffs and discharges increased in accommodation and food services and in federal government. The number of layoffs and discharges decreased in arts, entertainment, and recreation and in mining and logging. The number of layoffs and discharges increased over the year in the Midwest and West regions. (See table 11.)

The number of other separations was little changed in November at 287,000. Other separations decreased in federal government (-10,000). The other separations level decreased in the South region. (See table 6.)

Over the year, the other separations level (not seasonally adjusted) decreased to 237,000 (-69,000).

Other separations decreased in retail trade; other services; and state and local government, excluding education. The number of other separations decreased in the South region. (See table 12.)

Net Change in Employment

Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month throughout the business cycle. Net employment change results from the relationship between hires and separations. When the number of hires exceeds the number of separations, employment rises, even if the hires level is steady or declining. Conversely, when the number of hires is less than the number of separations, employment declines, even if the hires level is steady or rising.

Over the 12 months ending in November, hires totaled 70.7 million and separations totaled 75.9 million, yielding a net employment loss of 5.2 million. These totals include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for December 2020 are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on November 2020

Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey Data

Data collection for the JOLTS survey was affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While 42 percent of data are usually collected by phone at the JOLTS data collection center, most phone respondents were asked to report electronically. However, data collection was adversely impacted due to the inability to reach some respondents that normally respond by phone. The JOLTS response rate for November was 43 percent, while response rates prior to the pandemic averaged 54 percent.

BLS modified the JOLTS estimation methods in March through November to better reflect the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The estimation process usually includes an alignment of monthly hires minus separations to the over-the-month change in the Current Employment Statistics (CES) employment estimates. For November estimates, as in earlier months, BLS suspended the alignment process. The differing reference periods for the CES employment estimates (pay period including the 12th of the month) and the JOLTS hires and separations estimates (the entire reference month) led to different measurement outcomes. More information about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the JOLTS survey, including information about the JOLTS estimation methodology, is available at www.bls.gov/covid19/job-openings-and-labor-turnover-covid19-november-2020.htm.

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Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted

		Job openings			Hires		Total separations
Category
Nov.		Oct.		Nov.	Nov.	Oct.	Nov.	Nov.	Oct.	Nov.
	2019		2020		2020p	2019	2020	2020p	2019	2020	2020p
LEVELS BY INDUSTRY
(in thousands)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	6,793		6,632		6,527	5,857	5,912	5,979	5,657	5,142	5,413
Total private. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	6,070		5,936		5,858	5,485	5,578	5,639	5,307	4,674	5,009
Mining and logging1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	20		21		18	22	17	30	29	21	18
Construction1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	215		246		236	426	400	399	416	331	351
Manufacturing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	401		531		498	357	376	397	318	350	340
Durable goods1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	270		296		248	212	218	219	184	200	199
Nondurable goods1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	131		236		250	145	158	179	134	150	141
Trade, transportation, and utilities. . . . . . . . . . .	1,271		1,083		1,105	1,170	1,278	1,278	1,198	1,123	1,088
Wholesale trade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	188		180		171	156	135	148	147	131	139
Retail trade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	752		643		663	763	777	780	816	739	697
Transportation, warehousing, and
utilities1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	331		260		271	251	366	349	235	253	252
Information1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	136		122		77	90	103	60	79	56	67
Financial activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	348		291		281	236	227	236	213	193	173
Finance and insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	259		215		220	149	144	160	143	111	118
Real estate and rental and leasing1. . . . . .	88		76		61	87	84	76	70	82	55
Professional and business services. . . . . . . . .	1,217		1,220		1,274	1,157	1,116	1,291	1,131	1,011	1,039
Education and health services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	1,311		1,373		1,315	730	735	753	663	647	656
Educational services1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	146		122		101	107	91	99	89	80	89
Health care and social assistance. . . . . . . .	1,165		1,250		1,214	623	644	654	574	567	567
Leisure and hospitality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	966		817		801	1,078	1,044	982	1,063	777	1,097
Arts, entertainment, and recreation. . . . . . .	120		99		92	187	132	143	175	100	93
Accommodation and food services. . . . . . .	845		718		709	891	912	839	888	678	1,004
Other services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	185		233		251	220	282	215	197	163	179
Government. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	723		696		669	371	334	339	350	469	405
Federal1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	117		94		97	51	50	52	41	202	132
State and local. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	606		601		573	321	284	287	309	266	273
State and local education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	220		221		211	160	128	127	157	135	128
State and local, excluding education1. . . .	386		380		361	160	156	160	152	132	145
RATES BY INDUSTRY
(percent)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	4.3		4.5		4.4	3.9	4.2	4.2	3.7	3.6	3.8
Total private. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	4.5		4.7		4.6	4.2	4.6	4.7	4.1	3.9	4.1
Mining and logging1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	2.7		3.2		2.9	3.1	2.8	4.8	4.0	3.3	3.0
Construction1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	2.8		3.2		3.1	5.7	5.5	5.4	5.5	4.5	4.8
Manufacturing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	3.0		4.2		3.9	2.8	3.1	3.2	2.5	2.9	2.8
Durable goods1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	3.2		3.7		3.1	2.6	2.9	2.9	2.3	2.6	2.6
Nondurable goods1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	2.6		4.9		5.1	3.0	3.4	3.9	2.8	3.3	3.1
Trade, transportation, and utilities. . . . . . . . . . .	4.4		3.9		3.9	4.2	4.8	4.8	4.3	4.2	4.0
Wholesale trade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	3.1		3.1		2.9	2.6	2.4	2.6	2.5	2.3	2.5
Retail trade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	4.6		4.1		4.2	4.9	5.1	5.2	5.2	4.9	4.6
Transportation, warehousing, and
utilities1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5.1		4.2		4.3	4.0	6.2	5.7	3.8	4.3	4.1
Information1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	4.5		4.5		2.9	3.1	3.9	2.3	2.7	2.1	2.6
Financial activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	3.8		3.2		3.1	2.7	2.6	2.7	2.4	2.2	2.0
Finance and insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	3.9		3.2		3.3	2.3	2.2	2.5	2.2	1.7	1.8
Real estate and rental and leasing1. . . . . .	3.6		3.3		2.7	3.7	3.8	3.4	3.0	3.7	2.5
Professional and business services. . . . . . . . .	5.4		5.6		5.9	5.4	5.5	6.3	5.3	4.9	5.1
Education and health services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5.1		5.6		5.3	3.0	3.2	3.2	2.7	2.8	2.8
Educational services1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	3.7		3.4		2.9	2.8	2.6	2.9	2.3	2.3	2.6
Health care and social assistance. . . . . . . .	5.3		5.9		5.7	3.0	3.2	3.3	2.8	2.9	2.9
Leisure and hospitality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5.5		5.8		5.6	6.4	7.8	7.3	6.3	5.8	8.2
Arts, entertainment, and recreation. . . . . . .	4.6		5.4		4.9	7.6	7.6	8.0	7.1	5.7	5.2
Accommodation and food services. . . . . . .	5.6		5.8		5.7	6.2	7.8	7.2	6.2	5.8	8.6
Other services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	3.0		4.1		4.4	3.7	5.1	3.9	3.3	3.0	3.2

See footnotes at end of table.