For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, April 6, 2021	USDL-21-0620
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 2021

The number of job openings edged up to 7.4 million on the last business day of February, the U.S. 
Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Hires also edged up to 5.7 million while total separations 
were little changed at 5.5 million. Within separations, the quits rate and layoffs and discharges rate were 
unchanged at 2.3 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively. This release includes estimates of the number 
and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by industry, by four 
geographic regions, and by establishment size class. 
   
Job Openings

On the last business day of February, the number of job openings edged up to 7.4 million (+268,000). 
The job openings rate was little changed at 4.9 percent. Job openings increased in health care and social 
assistance (+233,000); accommodation and food services (+104,000); and arts, entertainment, and 
recreation (+56,000). The number of job openings decreased in state and local government education
(-117,000); educational services (-35,000); and information (-34,000). The number of job openings was 
little changed in all four regions. (See table 1.)

Hires

In February, the number of hires edged up to 5.7 million (+273,000). The hires rate was little changed at 
4.0 percent. Hires increased in accommodation and food services (+220,000). Hires decreased in state 
and local government education (-80,000) and in educational services (-25,000). The number of hires 
increased in the South region. (See table 2.)

Separations

Total separations includes 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 includes separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers 
to other locations of the same firm.

In February, the number and rate of total separations were little changed at 5.5 million and 3.8 percent, 
respectively. The total separations level decreased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-97,000) 
and in federal government (-17,000). Total separations increased in construction (+90,000); state and 
local government education (+51,000); and educational services (+36,000). Total separations were little 
changed in all four regions. (See table 3.)

In February, the quits level and rate were little changed at 3.4 million and 2.3 percent, respectively. The 
number of quits increased in state and local government education (+29,000); educational services 
(+22,000); and real estate and rental and leasing (+15,000). Quits decreased in federal government
(-7,000). The number of quits was little changed in all four regions. (See table 4.)

In February, the number and rate of layoffs and discharges were little changed at 1.8 million and 1.2 
percent, respectively. The number of layoffs and discharges decreased in transportation, warehousing, 
and utilities (-91,000) and in federal government (-6,000). Layoffs and discharges increased in finance 
and insurance (+24.000). Layoffs and discharges decreased in the West region. (See table 5.)

The number of other separations was little changed in February at 323,000. Other separations increased 
in state and local government education (+9,000) and in educational services (+4,000). Other separations 
decreased in real estate and rental and leasing (-7,000) and in federal government (-3,000). The other 
separations level was little changed in all four regions. (See table 6.)

Net Change in Employment

Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month throughout the business cycle. Net 
employment change results from the relationship between hires and separations. When the number of 
hires exceeds the number of separations, employment rises, even if the hires level is steady or declining. 
Conversely, when the number of hires is less than the number of separations, employment declines, even 
if the hires level is steady or rising.

Over the 12 months ending in February, hires totaled 72.3 million and separations totaled 80.9 million, 
yielding a net employment loss of 8.6 million. These totals include workers who may have been hired 
and separated more than once during the year.

Establishment Size Class

JOLTS produces estimates for job openings, hires, and separations by establishment size. These 
estimates can provide additional insight into the internal dynamics of the labor market. There are six 
employment size classes: 1-9; 10-49; 50-249; 250-999; 1,000-4,999; and 5,000 or more employees. 
Utilizing these size classes, establishments can also be described as small (1-49 employees), medium 
(50-249), and large (250+). For a more in-depth description of the JOLTS establishment size class 
estimates, please visit www.bls.gov/jlt/sizeclassmethodology.htm.

In February, the hires rate increased in small establishments with 10-49 employees. In large 
establishments with 250-999 employees, the job openings rate increased. 
_____________	
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for March 2021 are scheduled to be 
released on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|                        Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on February 2021			|
|			      Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey Data				|
|													|
|Data collection for the JOLTS survey was affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While 42 	|
|percent of data are usually collected by phone at the JOLTS data collection center, most phone 	|
|respondents were asked to report electronically. However, data collection was adversely impacted due to| 
|the inability to reach some respondents that normally respond by phone. The JOLTS response rate for 	|
|February was 45 percent, while response rates prior to the pandemic averaged 54 percent. 		|
|													|
|More information about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the JOLTS survey, including		| 
|information about the JOLTS estimation methodology, is available at www.bls.gov/covid19/job-		|
|openings-and-labor-turnover-covid19-february-2021.htm.							|
|_______________________________________________________________________________________________________|