For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, August 7, 2018 USDL-18-1276
Technical information: (202) 691-5870 • JoltsInfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/jlt
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov
JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – JUNE 2018
The number of job openings was little changed at 6.7 million on the last business day of June, the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires and separations were little changed at
5.7 million and 5.5 million, respectively. Within separations, the quits rate was unchanged at 2.3 percent
and the layoffs and discharges rate was little changed at 1.2 percent. This release includes estimates of
the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the nonfarm sector by industry and by
four geographic regions.
Job Openings
On the last business day of June, the job openings level was little changed at 6.7 million. The job
openings rate was 4.3 percent. The number of job openings was little changed for total private and for
government. Job openings increased in educational services (+20,000) but decreased in transportation,
warehousing, and utilities (-84,000). The number of job openings was little changed in all four regions.
(See table 1.)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| Errors in JOLTS federal government estimates |
|On June 12, 2018, BLS identified errors in the JOLTS federal government hires, total separations, and |
|layoffs and discharges estimates from January 2011 forward. These data have been suppressed from the BLS |
|database and this news release. For more information on this error and correction plans, please visit: |
|www.bls.gov/bls/errata/jolts-errata-06122018.htm. |
|_________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
Hires
The number of hires was little changed at 5.7 million in June. The hires rate was 3.8 percent. The
number of hires was little changed for total private. Hires increased in finance and insurance (+31,000).
The number of hires was essentially unchanged in all four regions. (See table 2.)
Separations
Total separations includes quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Total separations is
referred to as turnover. 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.
The number of total separations was little changed at 5.5 million in June. The total separations rate was
3.7 percent. The number of total separations was little changed for total private. Total separations was
little changed in all industries and regions. (See table 3.)
The number of quits was little changed in June at 3.4 million. The quits rate was 2.3 percent. The
number of quits was little changed for total private and for government. Quits fell in educational
services (-14,000). The number of quits was little changed in all four regions. (See table 4.)
The number of layoffs and discharges was little changed at 1.7 million in June. The layoffs and
discharges rate was 1.2 percent. The number of layoffs and discharges was little changed for total
private. Layoffs and discharges increased in health care and social assistance (+36,000). The number of
layoffs and discharges was little changed in all four regions. (See table 5.)
The number of other separations rose in June (+57,000). The other separations level edged up for total
private (+45,000) and increased for government (+13,000). Other separations increased in a number of
industries, with the largest increases in finance and insurance (+19,000) and other services (+13,000).
Other separations was essentially unchanged in all four regions. (See table 6.)
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 June, hires totaled 66.6 million and
separations totaled 64.1 million, yielding a net employment gain of 2.5 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 results for July 2018 are scheduled to be released
on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).
