Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey
Welcome to the step-by-step guide on how to use the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey one-screen query system
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) is a monthly survey that has been developed to address the need for data on job openings, hires, and separations.
This tool lets users query the BLS databases for specific data series. For each survey and program, make a selection for each characteristic in the order listed. As you make your selection, the remaining characteristics will filter to show only choices where data are available. After choosing the series, click on "Add to selection." If you need more data series, repeat the steps of choosing the data series you need. After you've finished finding the data series you need, click on the "Get Data" button to retrieve the data, and an HTML table with data for the most recent 10 years will display. If you desire a different time period of format, you may modify the options on the data display page, or click on the "More Formatting Options" button for additional options on refining the data retrieval results. Note: Users may not retrieve more than 200 data series in one query.
Type all or part of a search string in the search text box. The contents of the box will filter to show only those options that contain the search string.
These sectors include: Mining and Logging; Construction; Durable Goods Manufacturing; Nondurable Goods Manufacturing; Wholesale Trade; Retail Trade; Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities; Information; Finance and Insurance; Real Estate and Rental and Leasing; Professional and Business Services; Educational Services; Health Care and Social Assistance; Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation; Accommodation and Food Services; Other Services; Federal Government; State and Local Government Education; State and Local Government, excluding Education.
Click to select one or more state(s)/regions(s).
To select multiple options, hold the Ctrl/Command button, and click the desired options.
The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the census regions are:
- Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont
- South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia
- Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
- West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming
Note: state and regional data are only available at the total nonfarm level.
Click to select one or more Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
To select multiple options, hold the Ctrl/Command button, and click the desired options.
NOTE: Data for Metropolitan Statistical Areas are not currently available in this database.
Click to select one or more data elements.
To select multiple options, hold the Ctrl/Command button, and click the desired options.
Job Openings (JO) - are all positions that are open (not filled) on the last business day of the month. The positions can be full-time or part-time, and they can be permanent, short-term, or seasonal. A job is "open" only if it meets all three of the following conditions: 1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that position; 2) the job could start within 30 days, whether or not the establishment finds a suitable candidate during that time; and 3) there is active recruiting for workers from outside the establishment location that has the opening.
Hires (HI) - are all additions to the payroll during the month.
Total Separations (TS) - are all employees separated from the payroll during the calendar month.
Total separations are further broken down into:
- Quits (QU) - Employees who left voluntarily. Exception: retirements or transfers to other locations are reported with Other Separations.
- Layoffs and Discharges (LD) - Involuntary separations initiated by the employer.
- Other Separations (OS) - retirements; transfers to other locations; deaths; or separations due to employee disability.
Click to select one or more size classes.
To select multiple options, hold the Ctrl/Command button, and click the desired options.
| Size |
Employees |
1 |
1-9 |
2 |
10-49 |
3 |
50-249 |
4 |
250-999 |
5 |
1000-4999 |
6 |
5000+ |
Note: size class data are only available at the total private level.
Select "Rate" or "Level" by clicking the check box next to the desired form of data.
Rate - The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying that quotient by 100. All other data element rates (hires, total separations, quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations) are computed by dividing the data element level by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.
Level - The total number of job openings, hires, total separations, quits, layoffs and discharges and/or other separations.
Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that attempts to measure and remove the influences of predictable seasonal patterns from time series data. Seasonally adjusted data contain this type of adjustment to enable comparisons of data across any point in time. Not seasonally adjusted data have no such adjustment.
Seasonal Adjustment - Select Seasonal Adjustment selection field: Select "Not seasonally adjusted" or "Seasonally adjusted" by clicking the check box next to the desired form of data.
You must make a selection for each of the characteristics in the order listed. Once you have selected all of the characteristics, the "Add to selection" button becomes active. Click the "Add to selection" button to list the selected data series in the "Your selection" box. You can return to the characteristic boxes and make new selections to request additional data series. Click the "Get Data" button to retrieve all the selected data series.
You must make a selection for each of the characteristics in the order listed. Once you have selected all of the characteristics, the "Get Data" button becomes active. Click to retrieve the data.
Last Modified Date: January 21, 2022
United States Department of Labor
