Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, December 5, 2023   USDL-23-2528
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 – OCTOBER 2023

The number of job openings decreased to 8.7 million on the last business day of October, the U.S. 
Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, the number of hires and total separations 
changed little at 5.9 million and 5.6 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.6 million) and 
layoffs and discharges (1.6 million) changed little. 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

On the last business day of October, the number of job openings decreased to 8.7 million (-617,000). 
The job openings rate, at 5.3 percent, decreased by 0.3 percentage point over the month and 1.1 points 
over the year. Over the month, job openings decreased in health care and social assistance (-236,000), 
finance and insurance (-168,000), and real estate and rental and leasing (-49,000). Job openings 
increased in information (+39,000). (See table 1.)

Hires

In October, the number and rate of hires changed little at 5.9 million and 3.7 percent, respectively. The 
number of hires decreased in accommodation and food services (-110,000). (See table 2.)

Separations

Total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are generally 
voluntary separations initiated by the employee. 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 of total separations in October changed little at 5.6 million, and the rate was unchanged at 
3.6 percent for the fifth consecutive month. Over the month, the number of total separations increased in 
professional and business services (+121,000). (See table 3.)

In October, the number of quits changed little at 3.6 million, and the rate was 2.3 percent for the fourth 
consecutive month. The number of quits increased in professional and business services (+97,000).    
(See table 4.)

In October, the number of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.6 million, and the rate was 
unchanged at 1.0 percent. The number of layoffs and discharges changed little in all industries. (See 
table 5.)

The number of other separations changed little in October at 377,000. (See table 6.)

Establishment Size Class

In October, the job openings, hires, and total separations rates changed little for establishments with 1 to 
9 employees. The quits rate and total separations rate decreased for establishments with 5,000 or more 
employees. (See table 7.)
____________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for November 2023 are scheduled to be 
released on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).