For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, April 2, 2024 USDL-24-0625
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 – FEBRUARY 2024
The number of job openings changed little at 8.8 million on the last business day of February, the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, the number of hires and total separations
were little changed at 5.8 million and 5.6 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.5 million)
and layoffs and discharges (1.7 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 February, the number of job openings changed little at 8.8 million; this
measure is down from a series high of 12.2 million in March 2022. The rate was 5.3 percent for the third
month in a row. In February, job openings increased in finance and insurance (+126,000); state and local
government, excluding education (+91,000); and arts, entertainment, and recreation (+51,000). Job
openings decreased in information (-85,000) and in federal government (-21,000). (See table 1.)
Hires
In February, the number and rate of hires were little changed at 5.8 million and 3.7 percent,
respectively. Hires decreased in durable goods manufacturing (-44,000). (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 of total separations in February changed little at 5.6 million. The rate was unchanged at
3.5 percent. Over the month, the number of total separations increased in arts, entertainment, and
recreation (+64,000) but decreased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-62,000). (See table 3.)
In February, the number of quits was little changed at 3.5 million, and the rate was 2.2 percent for the
fourth consecutive month. (See table 4.)
In February, the number and rate of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.7 million and 1.1 percent,
respectively. The number of layoffs and discharges increased in accommodation and food services
(+67,000) and in arts, entertainment, and recreation (+57,000). (See table 5.)
The number of other separations was little changed in February at 351,000. (See table 6.)
Establishment Size Class
In February, establishments with 1 to 9 employees and establishments with 5,000 or more employees
saw little change in their job openings rate, hires rate, and total separations rate. (See table 7.)
January 2024 Revisions
The number of job openings for January was revised down by 115,000 to 8.7 million, the number of
hires was revised up by 11,000 to 5.7 million, and the number of total separations was revised up by
108,000 to 5.4 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised up by 61,000 to 3.4 million
and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised up by 24,000 to 1.6 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.)
____________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for March 2024 are scheduled to be
released on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
United States Department of Labor
