For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, October 1, 2024 USDL-24-2050
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JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – AUGUST 2024
The number of job openings was little changed at 8.0 million on the last business day of August, the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires changed little at 5.3 million. Total
separations changed little at 5.0 million. Within separations, quits (3.1 million) continued to trend down
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
The number of job openings was little changed at 8.0 million on the last business day of August but was
down by 1.3 million over the year. The job openings rate, at 4.8 percent, changed little over the month.
The number of job openings increased in construction (+138,000) and in state and local government,
excluding education (+78,000). Job openings decreased in other services (-93,000). (See table 1.)
Hires
In August, the number and rate of hires changed little at 5.3 million and 3.3 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 August changed little at 5.0 million. The total separations rate
decreased to 3.1 percent. Total separations increased in professional and business services (+149,000)
but decreased in accommodation and food services (-111,000) and in state and local government,
excluding education (-25,000). (See table 3.)
In August, the number of quits trended down to 3.1 million (-159,000), while the quits rate, at 1.9
percent, changed little. Quits decreased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-45,000); arts,
entertainment, and recreation (-18,000); and private educational services (-11,000). (See table 4.)
In August, the number and rate of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.6 million and 1.0 percent,
respectively. Layoffs and discharges decreased in health care and social assistance (-52,000).
(See table 5.)
The number of other separations changed little at 304,000 in August. (See table 6.)
Establishment Size Class
In August, 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.)
July 2024 Revisions
The number of job openings for July was revised up by 38,000 to 7.7 million, the number of hires was
revised down by 105,000 to 5.4 million, and the number of total separations was revised down by
106,000 to 5.3 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised down by 34,000 to 3.2
million, and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised down by 49,000 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 September 2024 are scheduled to be
released on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
United States Department of Labor
