Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Economic News Release
PRINT:Print
JOLTS JLT Program Links

Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, October 1, 2024    USDL-24-2050
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 – 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.)
____________
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).

     
Last Modified Date: October 01, 2024