Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, April 29, 2025     USDL-25-0655
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                            JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – MARCH 2025

The number of job openings was little changed at 7.2 million in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor 
Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires held at 5.4 million, and total separations changed little at 
5.1 million. Within separations, quits (3.3 million) were unchanged and layoffs and discharges
(1.6 million) edged down. 

This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the 
total nonfarm sector, by industry, and by establishment size class. Job openings include all positions that 
are open on the last business day of the month. Hires and separations include all changes to the payroll 
during the entire month. 
       
Job Openings

The number of job openings was little changed at 7.2 million in March but was down by 901,000 over 
the year. The job openings rate, at 4.3 percent, changed little over the month. The number of job 
openings decreased in federal government (-36,000). (See table 1.)

Hires

In March, the number and rate of hires were unchanged at 5.4 million and 3.4 percent, respectively. The 
number of hires was little changed in all industries in March. (See table 2.)

Separations

Total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. 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 include separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers 
to other locations of the same firm.

The number and rate of total separations in March were little changed at 5.1 million and 3.2 percent, 
respectively. Total separations increased in state and local government, excluding education (+28,000) 
but decreased in federal government (-8,000). (See table 3.)

In March, the number of quits was unchanged at 3.3 million. The quits rate was little changed at 2.1 
percent. Quits decreased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-49,000). (See table 4.)

In March, the number of layoffs and discharges edged down to 1.6 million and the rate was little 
changed at 1.0 percent. Layoffs and discharges decreased in retail trade (-66,000) and in federal 
government (-11,000). Layoffs and discharges increased in state and local government, excluding 
education (+17,000). (See table 5.)

The number of other separations was little changed at 247,000 in March. (See table 6.)

Establishment Size Class

In March, establishments with 1 to 9 employees and establishments with 5,000 or more employees 
showed little or no change in job openings, hires, and separations rates. (See table 7.)

February 2025 Revisions

The number of job openings for February was revised down by 88,000 to 7.5 million, the number of 
hires was revised down by 26,000 to 5.4 million, and the number of total separations was revised up by 
55,000 to 5.3 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised up by 55,000 to 3.3 million, 
and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised down by 10,000 to 1.8 million. (Monthly revisions 
result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published 
estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.)
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The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for April 2025 are scheduled to be 
released on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).