For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, October 29, 2024 USDL-24-2229
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JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – SEPTEMBER 2024
The number of job openings was little changed at 7.4 million on the last business day of September, the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires changed little at 5.6 million. The
number of total separations was unchanged at 5.2 million. Within separations, quits (3.1 million) and
layoffs and discharges (1.8 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
The number of job openings was little changed at 7.4 million on the last business day of September but
was down by 1.9 million over the year. The job openings rate, at 4.5 percent, changed little over the
month. The number of job openings decreased in health care and social assistance (-178,000); state and
local government, excluding education (-79,000); and federal government (-28,000) but increased in
finance and insurance (+85,000). (See table 1.)
Hires
In September, the number and rate of hires changed little at 5.6 million and 3.5 percent, respectively.
(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 September was unchanged at 5.2 million but was down by 326,000
over the year. The total separations rate was unchanged at 3.3 percent over the month. (See table 3.)
In September, the number of quits changed little at 3.1 million but was down by 525,000 over the year.
Over the month, the quits rate was little changed at 1.9 percent. Quits decreased in professional and
business services (-94,000) but increased in state and local government, excluding education (+22,000)
and in real estate and rental and leasing (+18,000). (See table 4.)
In September, the number of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.8 million but increased by
238,000 over the year. The layoffs and discharges rate increased to 1.2 percent in September. Layoffs
and discharges increased in durable goods manufacturing (+46,000) but decreased in state and local
government, excluding education (-20,000). (See table 5.)
The number of other separations changed little at 292,000 in September. (See table 6.)
Establishment Size Class
In September, establishments with 1 to 9 employees showed little or no change in job openings, hires,
quits, and total separations rates, while the layoffs and discharges rate increased. For establishments
with 5,000 or more employees, the job openings, hires, and total separations rates showed little or no
change. (See table 7.)
August 2024 Revisions
The number of job openings for August was revised down by 179,000 to 7.9 million, the number of
hires was revised up by 118,000 to 5.4 million, and the number of total separations was revised up by
171,000 to 5.2 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised up by 94,000 to 3.2 million,
and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised up by 60,000 to 1.7 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 October 2024 are scheduled to be
released on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
United States Department of Labor
