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The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) national estimates of job openings, hires, and separations have been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This page provides further information on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for the August 2020 JOLTS news release.
More information on the JOLTS methodology can be found in the JOLTS Handbook of Methods chapter.
Data collection for the JOLTS survey was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, JOLTS collected 42 percent of data by phone at the JOLTS data collection center on average. Most phone respondents were asked to report electronically. However, data collection was adversely impacted by the inability to reach some respondents that normally respond by phone.
Collection mode | 12-month average through February 2020 | March 2020 | April 2020 | May 2020 | June 2020 | July 2020 | August 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phone |
42% | 19% | 27% | 28% | 32% | 31% | 32% |
Web |
52% | 75% | 68% | 67% | 62% | 65% | 63% |
Other |
6% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 4% | 5% |
The preliminary JOLTS response rate for August 2020 was 47 percent. In July, the final response rate was 50 percent. In the year prior to the pandemic, the preliminary response rate averaged 54 percent and the final response rate averaged 58 percent.
In August, JOLTS response rates declined in all industries and size classes. The industries most impacted were federal government, as well as state and local government education. The industries least affected were durable goods manufacturing and real estate and rental and leasing.
Time period | Preliminary rate | Final rate |
---|---|---|
12-month average through February 2020 |
54% | 58% |
March 2020 |
46% | 51% |
April 2020 |
44% | 49% |
May 2020 |
45% | 51% |
June 2020 |
47% | 50% |
July 2020 |
46% | 50% |
August 2020 |
47% | Not available |
JOLTS imputation for August resulted in very few cells with more imputation relative to the previous year. The industry that generally experienced more imputation was construction.
In anticipation of issues due to the pandemic, the JOLTS program reviewed all estimation and methodological procedures. An adjustment has been made to the JOLTS estimation methodology in order to more accurately reflect the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adjustments were also made to the seasonal adjustment process.
BLS modified the JOLTS estimates starting in March and continuing through August to better reflect the impact of the 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. BLS suspended the alignment process because 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 substantially different measurement outcomes. For example, hires and separations during the latter half of August were not included in the CES employment change for August, but were included in the JOLTS data for the month.
The alignment portion of the JOLTS estimation process was designed to correct a long-term divergence between the JOLTS implied employment change and the CES employment change. JOLTS hires minus separations and CES employment change generally approximate one another. Alignment was developed to correct small monthly discrepancies between the two series that build up over time; it was not designed to address a substantial short-term divergence between the two series. The alignment process was suppressed in order to produce the highest quality JOLTS estimates possible in this unique situation.
Seasonal adjustment factors can be either multiplicative or additive. A multiplicative seasonal effect is assumed to be proportional to the level of the series. A sudden large increase in the level of the series will be accompanied by a proportionally large seasonal effect. In contrast, an additive seasonal effect is assumed to be unaffected by the level of the series. In times of relative economic stability, the multiplicative option is generally preferred over the additive option. However, in the presence of a large level shift in a time series, multiplicative seasonal adjustment factors can result in systematic over- or under-adjustment of the series; in such cases, additive seasonal adjustment factors are preferred since they tend to more accurately track seasonal fluctuations in the series and have smaller revisions.
In August, the majority of the JOLTS series will retain the additive designation. In accordance with the survey’s usual practice, the seasonal adjustment models and factors will be reviewed at the end of the calendar year, when 5 years of seasonally adjusted estimates will be subject to revision.
The following tables compare August 2020 estimates with historical levels.
Sector and region | August 2020 level | Monthly change | Monthly percent change | Last time level was smaller or equal or next closest | Last time level was larger or equal or next closest | Last time monthly change was smaller or equal or next closest | Last time monthly change was larger or equal or next closest | Last time monthly percent change was smaller or equal or next closest | Last time monthly percent change was larger or equal or next closest | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Nonfarm |
6,493 | -204 | -3.0 | Jun 2020 | 6,001 | Jul 2020 | 6,697 | Apr 2020 | -1,015 | Jul 2020 | 696 | Apr 2020 | -16.9 | Jul 2020 | 11.6 |
Total private |
5,637 | -242 | -4.1 | Jun 2020 | 5,347 | Jul 2020 | 5,879 | Apr 2020 | -952 | Jul 2020 | 532 | Apr 2020 | -18.0 | Jul 2020 | 9.9 |
Government |
857 | 39 | 4.8 | Jul 2020 | 818 | Jul 2020 | 818 | Jun 2020 | 19 | Jul 2020 | 164 | Jun 2020 | 3.0 | Jul 2020 | 25.1 |
Region |
|||||||||||||||
Northeast |
1,149 | -60 | -5.0 | Jun 2020 | 1,123 | Jul 2020 | 1,209 | Apr 2020 | -130 | Jul 2020 | 86 | Apr 2020 | -11.8 | Jul 2020 | 7.7 |
South |
2,510 | 31 | 1.3 | Jul 2020 | 2,479 | Feb 2020 | 2,589 | Apr 2020 | -395 | Jul 2020 | 253 | Apr 2020 | -17.5 | Jul 2020 | 11.4 |
Midwest |
1,400 | -161 | -10.3 | Jun 2020 | 1,329 | Jul 2020 | 1,561 | Apr 2020 | -219 | Jul 2020 | 232 | Apr 2020 | -17.0 | Jul 2020 | 17.5 |
West |
1,434 | -14 | -1.0 | Jun 2020 | 1,323 | Jul 2020 | 1,448 | Apr 2020 | -272 | Jul 2020 | 125 | Apr 2020 | -19.8 | Jul 2020 | 9.4 |
Sector and region | August 2020 level | Monthly change | Monthly percent change | Last time level was smaller or equal or next closest | Last time level was larger or equal or next closest | Last time monthly change was smaller or equal or next closest | Last time monthly change was larger or equal or next closest | Last time monthly percent change was smaller or equal or next closest | Last time monthly percent change was larger or equal or next closest | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Nonfarm |
5,919 | 16 | 0.3 | Jul 2020 | 5,903 | Jun 2020 | 6,970 | Jul 2020 | -1,067 | May 2020 | 3152 | Jul 2020 | -15.3 | May 2020 | 77.9 |
Total private |
5,349 | -220 | -4.0 | Apr 2020 | 3,812 | Jul 2020 | 5,569 | Jul 2020 | -1,119 | May 2020 | 3140 | Jul 2020 | -16.7 | Jun 2020 | -3.8 |
Government |
569 | 235 | 70.4 | Jul 2020 | 334 | May 2010 | 735 | Jul 2020 | 53 | May 2010 | 397 | Jul 2020 | 18.9 | May 2010 | 117.5 |
Region |
|||||||||||||||
Northeast |
1,029 | -23 | -2.2 | Apr 2020 | 534 | Jul 2020 | 1,052 | Jul 2020 | -162 | Jun 2020 | 111 | Jul 2020 | -13.3 | Jun 2020 | 10.1 |
South |
2,256 | 83 | 3.8 | Jul 2020 | 2,173 | Jun 2020 | 2,417 | Jul 2020 | -244 | May 2020 | 825 | Jul 2020 | -10.1 | May 2020 | 52.1 |
Midwest |
1,305 | -2 | -0.2 | Apr 2020 | 914 | Jul 2020 | 1,307 | Jul 2020 | -375 | Jun 2020 | 54 | Jul 2020 | -22.3 | Jun 2020 | 3.3 |
West |
1,328 | -43 | -3.1 | Apr 2020 | 1,015 | Jul 2020 | 1,371 | Jul 2020 | -285 | May 2020 | 1044 | Jul 2020 | -17.2 | May 2020 | 102.9 |
Sector and region | August 2020 level | Monthly change | Monthly percent change | Last time level was smaller or equal or next closest | Last time level was larger or equal or next closest | Last time monthly change was smaller or equal or next closest | Last time monthly change was larger or equal or next closest | Last time monthly percent change was smaller or equal or next closest | Last time monthly percent change was larger or equal or next closest | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Nonfarm |
4,594 | -394 | -7.9 | May 2020 | 4,236 | Jul 2020 | 4,988 | May 2020 | -5,739 | Jul 2020 | 89 | May 2020 | -57.5 | Jul 2020 | 1.8 |
Total private |
4,325 | -404 | -8.5 | May 2020 | 3,935 | Jul 2020 | 4,729 | May 2020 | -5,601 | Jul 2020 | 73 | May 2020 | -58.7 | Jul 2020 | 1.6 |
Government |
269 | 10 | 3.9 | Jul 2020 | 259 | May 2020 | 302 | Jun 2020 | -59 | Jul 2020 | 16 | Jun 2020 | -19.5 | Jul 2020 | 6.6 |
Region |
|||||||||||||||
Northeast |
707 | -59 | -7.7 | Nov 2014 | 665 | Jul 2020 | 766 | Jul 2020 | -75 | Jun 2020 | 114 | Jul 2020 | -8.9 | Jun 2020 | 15.7 |
South |
1,818 | -97 | -5.1 | May 2020 | 1,675 | Jul 2020 | 1,915 | May 2020 | -1,754 | Jul 2020 | 53 | May 2020 | -51.2 | Jul 2020 | 2.8 |
Midwest |
1,028 | -93 | -8.3 | May 2020 | 900 | Jul 2020 | 1,121 | May 2020 | -1,270 | Jul 2020 | 41 | May 2020 | -58.5 | Jul 2020 | 3.8 |
West |
1,040 | -145 | -12.2 | May 2020 | 933 | Jul 2020 | 1,185 | May 2020 | -1,592 | Jul 2020 | 70 | May 2020 | -63.0 | Jul 2020 | 6.3 |
Sector and region | August 2020 level | Monthly change | Monthly percent change | Last time level was smaller or equal or next closest | Last time level was larger or equal or next closest | Last time monthly change was smaller or equal or next closest | Last time monthly change was larger or equal or next closest | Last time monthly percent change was smaller or equal or next closest | Last time monthly percent change was larger or equal or next closest | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Nonfarm |
1,473 | -272 | -15.6 | Sep 2016 | 1,596 | Jul 2020 | 1745 | May 2020 | -5,805 | Jul 2020 | -250 | May 2020 | -75.3 | Jul 2020 | -12.5 |
Total private |
1,408 | -282 | -16.7 | Sep 2016 | 1,484 | Jul 2020 | 1690 | May 2020 | -5,701 | Jul 2020 | -223 | May 2020 | -76.2 | Jul 2020 | -11.7 |
Government |
65 | 10 | 18.2 | Jul 2020 | 55 | Jun 2020 | 81 | Jul 2020 | -26 | Apr 2020 | 54 | Jul 2020 | -32.1 | Apr 2020 | 31.2 |
Region |
|||||||||||||||
Northeast |
263 | -37 | -12.3 | Jul 2015 | 250 | Jul 2020 | 300 | Jul 2020 | -95 | Jun 2020 | -7 | Jul 2020 | -24.1 | Jun 2020 | -1.7 |
South |
514 | -125 | -19.6 | Feb 2001 | 546 | Jul 2020 | 639 | May 2020 | -1,846 | Jul 2020 | -67 | May 2020 | -73.5 | Jul 2020 | -9.5 |
Midwest |
337 | -18 | -5.1 | Mar 2019 | 329 | Jul 2020 | 355 | Jul 2020 | -61 | Jun 2020 | 8 | Jul 2020 | -14.7 | Jun 2020 | 2.0 |
West |
359 | -92 | -20.4 | Mar 2019 | 352 | Jul 2020 | 451 | May 2020 | -1,610 | Jul 2020 | -27 | May 2020 | -79.0 | Jul 2020 | -5.6 |
Sector and region | August 2020 level | Monthly change | Monthly percent change | Last time level was smaller or equal or next closest | Last time level was larger or equal or next closest | Last time monthly change was smaller or equal or next closest | Last time monthly change was larger or equal or next closest | Last time monthly percent change was smaller or equal or next closest | Last time monthly percent change was larger or equal or next closest | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Nonfarm |
2,793 | -139 | -4.7 | Jun 2020 | 2,605 | Jul 2020 | 2,932 | Apr 2020 | -912 | Jul 2020 | 327 | Apr 2020 | -32.7 | Jul 2020 | 12.6 |
Total private |
2,656 | -133 | -4.8 | Jun 2020 | 2,492 | Jul 2020 | 2,789 | Apr 2020 | -888 | Jul 2020 | 297 | Apr 2020 | -33.9 | Jul 2020 | 11.9 |
Government |
137 | -6 | -4.2 | Jun 2020 | 113 | Jul 2020 | 143 | Jun 2020 | -9 | Jul 2020 | 30 | Jun 2020 | -7.4 | Jul 2020 | 26.5 |
Region |
|||||||||||||||
Northeast |
398 | -12 | -2.9 | Jun 2020 | 392 | Jul 2020 | 410 | Apr 2020 | -129 | Jul 2020 | 18 | Apr 2020 | -31.9 | Jul 2020 | 4.6 |
South |
1,183 | 23 | 2.0 | Jul 2020 | 1,160 | Feb 2020 | 1,347 | Apr 2020 | -307 | Jul 2020 | 106 | Apr 2020 | -28.0 | Jul 2020 | 10.1 |
Midwest |
616 | -87 | -12.4 | Jun 2020 | 599 | Jul 2020 | 703 | Apr 2020 | -236 | Jul 2020 | 104 | Apr 2020 | -36.1 | Jul 2020 | 17.4 |
West |
596 | -62 | -9.4 | Jun 2020 | 560 | Jul 2020 | 658 | Apr 2020 | -239 | Jul 2020 | 98 | Apr 2020 | -37.8 | Jul 2020 | 17.5 |
Last Modified Date: October 2, 2020