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Impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on Job Openings and Labor Turnover data for August 2020

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.

Collection mode

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. 

Table 1. Percent of establishments responding by collection mode for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey
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%

Response rates

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. 

Table 2. Response rates for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey
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

Imputation

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. 

Changes to methods

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. 

Estimation 

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 

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.

Comparison of August JOLTS Estimates with Previous Months

The following tables compare August 2020 estimates with historical levels. 

Table 3a. Job openings by sector and region (numbers in thousands)
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
Table 3b. Hires by sector and region (numbers in thousands)
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
Table 3c. Total separations by sector and region (numbers in thousands)
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
Table 3d. Layoffs and discharges by sector and region (numbers in thousands)
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
Table 3e. Quits by sector and region (numbers in thousands)
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