State Job Openings and Labor Turnover

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Friday, January 21, 2022	USDL-22-0080
Technical information:	[phone]	•	[e-mail] •	www.bls.gov/jlt
Media contact:	[phone]	•	[e-mail]

STATE JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER - NOVEMBER 2021

Job openings rates decreased in 16 states, increased in 3 states, and were little changed in 31 states and the District of Columbia on the last business day of November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Hires rates increased in 4 states, decreased in 2 states, and were little changed in 44 states and the District of Columbia. Total separations rates increased in 13 states, decreased in 1 state, and were little changed in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Nationally, the job openings rate decreased in November; the hires and total separations rates were little changed. (See tables A-E.)

This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, total separations, quits, and layoffs and discharges for the total nonfarm sector and for all states and the District of Columbia.

Job Openings

In November, job openings rates decreased in 16 states and increased in 3 states. The largest decreases in job openings rates occurred in Minnesota (-2.0 percentage points), Michigan (-1.4 points), and Louisiana and South Dakota (-1.2 points each). The increases in job openings rates occurred in New Hampshire (+ 0.8 percentage point), New York (+0.7 point), and Connecticut (+0.5 point). The national job openings rate decreased over the month (-0.4 point). (See table A.)

The number of job openings decreased in 15 states and increased in 3 states on the last business day of November. The largest decreases occurred in Florida (-82,000), Michigan (-67,000), and Minnesota (-66,000). The increases in the job openings level occurred in New York (+71,000), Connecticut (+8,000), and New Hampshire (+6,000). Nationally, the number of job openings decreased (-529,000). (See table A.)

Hires

In November, hires rates increased in 4 states and decreased in 2 states. The largest increases in hires rates occurred in Idaho (+1.0 percentage point), Nebraska (+0.8 point), and Colorado (+0.7 point). The hires rates decreased in Massachusetts and Ohio (-0.5 percentage point each). The national hires rate was little changed. (See table B.)

The number of hires increased in 4 states and decreased in 1 state in November. The increases occurred in Illinois (+36,000), Colorado (+19,000), and Idaho and Nebraska (+8,000 each). The decrease occurred in Massachusetts (-19,000). Nationally, the number of hires was little changed. (See table B.)

Total Separations

In November, total separations rates increased in 13 states and decreased in 1 state. The largest increases occurred in New Hampshire (+2.1 percentage points), and Maine and Vermont (+1.3 points each). The total separations rate decreased in Pennsylvania (-0.4 percentage point). The national total separations rate was little changed over the month. (See table C.)

The number of total separations increased in 14 states in November. The largest increases occurred in Georgia (+57,000), Illinois (+47,000), and New York (+32,000). Nationally, the number of total separations increased (+382,000). (See table C.)

Quits

In November, quits rates increased in 22 states and decreased in 2 states. The largest increases in quits rates occurred in New Hampshire (+1.6 percentage points) and Georgia, Kentucky, and North Dakota (+1.2 points each). The quits rate decreased in Colorado (-0.5 percentage point) and Pennsylvania (-0.3 point). Over the month, the national quits rate increased (+0.2 percentage point). (See table D.)

The number of quits increased in 21 states and decreased in 2 states in November. The largest increases in the quits level occurred in Georgia (+53,000), Illinois (+42,000), and New York (+36,000). The quits level decreased in Pennsylvania (-17,000) and Colorado (-15,000). Nationally, the number of quits increased over the month (+370,000). (See table D.)

Layoffs and Discharges

In November, layoffs and discharges rates increased in 4 states and decreased in 3 states. The largest increases in layoffs and discharges rates occurred in Montana and Wyoming (+0.7 percentage point each), and Iowa (+0.4 point). The decreases in layoffs and discharges rates occurred in North Dakota (-0.8 percentage point), West Virginia (-0.7 point), and Kentucky (-0.3 point). The national layoffs and discharges rate was unchanged. (See table E.)

The number of layoffs and discharges increased in 4 states and decreased in 2 states in November. The largest increases in layoffs and discharges were in Texas (+30,000), Iowa (+7,000), and Montana (+3,000). The decreases in layoffs and discharges levels were in West Virginia (-5,000) and North Dakota (-3,000). Nationally, the number of layoffs and discharges was little changed over the month. (See table E.)

For more information, please see the JOLTS interactive charts at www.bls.gov/charts/state-job-openings-and-labor-turnover/state-job-openings-rates.htm#.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey State estimates for December 2021 are scheduled to be released on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

- 2 -

Table A. States with significant changes in job openings from October 2021 to November 2021, seasonally adjusted

	Level (in thousands)		Rate
State	October	November	Over-the-	October	November	Over-the-
month	month
	2021	2021	p	2021	2021	p
		changep		changep
TOTAL U.S....................................................................................	11,091	10,562	-529	7.0	6.6	-0.4
Alabama........................................................................................	157	146	-11	7.1	6.6	-0.5
Connecticut...................................................................................	104	112	8	6.0	6.5	0.5
Florida...........................................................................................	713	631	-82	7.4	6.6	-0.8
Georgia.........................................................................................	412	379	-33	8.2	7.6	-0.6
Illinois............................................................................................	427	379	-48	6.8	6.1	-0.7
Iowa..............................................................................................	118	104	-14	7.1	6.3	-0.8
Kentucky.......................................................................................	149	137	-12	7.3	6.8	-0.5
Louisiana.......................................................................................	156	131	-25	7.8	6.6	-1.2
Maryland.......................................................................................	224	198	-26	7.7	6.8	-0.9
Massachusetts..............................................................................	302	290	-12*	7.9	7.5	-0.4
Michigan........................................................................................	397	330	-67	8.6	7.2	-1.4
Minnesota......................................................................................	255	189	-66	8.1	6.1	-2.0
Mississippi.....................................................................................	87	81	-6*	7.1	6.6	-0.5
Missouri.........................................................................................	244	221	-23	7.9	7.2	-0.7
New Hampshire.............................................................................	51	57	6	7.1	7.9	0.8
New Mexico..................................................................................	68	60	-8	7.7	6.8	-0.9
New York.......................................................................................	565	636	71	5.9	6.6	0.7
Oklahoma......................................................................................	124	114	-10	7.0	6.5	-0.5
South Carolina...............................................................................	182	170	-12	7.8	7.3	-0.5*
South Dakota.................................................................................	37	31	-6	7.8	6.6	-1.2
p Preliminary
* Not significant

Table B. States with significant changes in hires from October 2021 to November 2021, seasonally adjusted

	Level (in thousands)		Rate
State	October	November	Over-the-	October	November	Over-the-
month	month
	2021	2021	p	2021	2021	p
		changep		changep
TOTAL U.S....................................................................................	6,506	6,697	191	4.4	4.5	0.1
Colorado........................................................................................	124	143	19	4.5	5.2	0.7
Idaho.............................................................................................	37	45	8	4.7	5.7	1.0
Illinois............................................................................................	255	291	36	4.4	5.0	0.6
Massachusetts..............................................................................	142	123	-19	4.0	3.5	-0.5
Nebraska.......................................................................................	37	45	8	3.6	4.4	0.8
Ohio...............................................................................................	224	201	-23*	4.2	3.7	-0.5
p Preliminary
* Not significant

- 3 -

Table C. States with significant changes in total separations from October 2021 to November 2021, seasonally adjusted

	Level (in thousands)		Rate
State	October	November	Over-the-	October	November	Over-the-
month	month
	2021	2021	p	2021	2021	p
		changep		changep
TOTAL U.S....................................................................................	5,891	6,273	382	4.0	4.2	0.2
Alabama........................................................................................	95	105	10*	4.6	5.1	0.5
Connecticut...................................................................................	56	77	21	3.5	4.7	1.2
Georgia.........................................................................................	220	277	57	4.8	6.0	1.2
Illinois............................................................................................	205	252	47	3.5	4.3	0.8
Iowa..............................................................................................	56	69	13	3.6	4.5	0.9
Kentucky.......................................................................................	86	103	17	4.6	5.4	0.8
Maine............................................................................................	26	34	8	4.2	5.5	1.3
Minnesota......................................................................................	93	110	17	3.2	3.8	0.6
New Hampshire.............................................................................	30	44	14	4.5	6.6	2.1
New Jersey...................................................................................	147	167	20	3.6	4.1	0.5
New York.......................................................................................	268	300	32	3.0	3.3	0.3*
Pennsylvania.................................................................................	241	221	-20*	4.2	3.8	-0.4
Rhode Island.................................................................................	21	25	4	4.4	5.2	0.8*
Vermont.........................................................................................	15	19	4	5.1	6.4	1.3
Wisconsin......................................................................................	109	123	14	3.8	4.3	0.5
Wyoming.......................................................................................	13	16	3	4.7	5.8	1.1
p Preliminary
* Not significant

- 4 -

Table D. States with significant changes in quits from October 2021 to November 2021, seasonally adjusted

	Level (in thousands)		Rate
State	October	November	Over-the-	October	November	Over-the-
month	month
	2021	2021	p	2021	2021	p
		changep		changep
TOTAL U.S....................................................................................	4,157	4,527	370	2.8	3.0	0.2
Alabama........................................................................................	65	76	11	3.2	3.7	0.5
Alaska............................................................................................	10	12	2	3.2	3.9	0.7
California.......................................................................................	391	415	24*	2.3	2.5	0.2
Colorado........................................................................................	111	96	-15	4.0	3.5	-0.5
Connecticut...................................................................................	35	49	14	2.2	3.0	0.8
Delaware.......................................................................................	14	17	3	3.1	3.8	0.7
Florida...........................................................................................	270	301	31	3.0	3.4	0.4
Georgia.........................................................................................	153	206	53	3.3	4.5	1.2
Illinois............................................................................................	150	192	42	2.6	3.3	0.7
Indiana..........................................................................................	104	117	13	3.4	3.8	0.4
Iowa..............................................................................................	37	44	7	2.4	2.9	0.5
Kentucky.......................................................................................	56	79	23	3.0	4.2	1.2
Maine............................................................................................	18	23	5	2.9	3.8	0.9
Minnesota......................................................................................	66	79	13	2.3	2.7	0.4
New Hampshire.............................................................................	19	30	11	2.9	4.5	1.6
New York.......................................................................................	173	209	36	1.9	2.3	0.4
North Carolina...............................................................................	160	181	21	3.5	4.0	0.5
North Dakota.................................................................................	13	18	5	3.1	4.3	1.2
Oklahoma......................................................................................	51	58	7	3.1	3.5	0.4*
Pennsylvania.................................................................................	156	139	-17	2.7	2.4	-0.3
Tennessee.....................................................................................	94	112	18	3.0	3.6	0.6
Utah...............................................................................................	48	55	7*	2.9	3.4	0.5
Vermont.........................................................................................	11	13	2	3.7	4.4	0.7
West Virginia.................................................................................	21	25	4	3.0	3.6	0.6
Wisconsin......................................................................................	78	97	19	2.7	3.4	0.7
p Preliminary
* Not significant

Table E. States with significant changes in layoffs and discharges from October 2021 to November 2021, seasonally adjusted

	Level (in thousands)		Rate
State	October	November	Over-the-	October	November	Over-the-
month	month
	2021	2021	p	2021	2021	p
		changep		changep
TOTAL U.S....................................................................................	1,350	1,369	19	0.9	0.9	0.0
Iowa..............................................................................................	15	22	7	1.0	1.4	0.4
Kentucky.......................................................................................	24	18	-6*	1.3	1.0	-0.3
Montana........................................................................................	6	9	3	1.2	1.9	0.7
North Dakota.................................................................................	9	6	-3	2.2	1.4	-0.8
Texas.............................................................................................	81	111	30	0.6	0.9	0.3
West Virginia.................................................................................	10	5	-5	1.4	0.7	-0.7
Wyoming.......................................................................................	3	5	2	1.1	1.8	0.7
p Preliminary
* Not significant

- 5 -