Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, April 1, 2025      USDL-25-0450
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                             JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – FEBRUARY 2025

The number of job openings was little changed at 7.6 million in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor 
Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires and total separations held at 5.4 million and 5.3 million, 
respectively. Within separations, quits (3.2 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 include all positions that 
are open on the last business day of the month. Hires and separations include all changes to the payroll 
during the entire month. 
       
Job Openings

The number of job openings was little changed at 7.6 million in February but was down by 877,000 
over the year. The job openings rate, at 4.5 percent, changed little over the month. The number of job 
openings decreased in finance and insurance (-80,000). (See table 1.)

Hires

In February, the number and rate of hires were unchanged at 5.4 million and 3.4 percent, respectively. 
The number of hires was little changed in all industries in February. (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 and rate of total separations in February were unchanged at 5.3 million and 3.3 percent, 
respectively. Total separations increased in state and local government education (+32,000) and in 
federal government (+11,000). (See table 3.)

In February, the number of quits was little changed at 3.2 million but was down by 273,000 over the 
year. Over the month, the quits rate was unchanged at 2.0 percent. Quits increased in state and local 
government education (+28,000). (See table 4.)

In February, the number of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.8 million. The layoffs and 
discharges rate was unchanged at 1.1 percent. Layoffs and discharges increased in retail trade (+67,000), 
real estate and rental and leasing (+24,000), and federal government (+18,000). Layoffs and discharges 
decreased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-42,000). (See table 5.)

The number of other separations decreased 67,000 to 275,000 in February. (See table 6.)

Establishment Size Class

In February, the quits rate and other separations rate decreased for establishments with 1 to 9 employees, 
while the layoffs and discharges rate increased. The job openings, hires, and total separations rate 
changed little for establishments with 1 to 9 employees. For establishments with 5,000 or more 
employees, all rates showed little or no change. (See table 7.)

January 2025 Revisions

The number of job openings for January was revised up by 22,000 to 7.8 million, the number of hires 
was revised down by 22,000 to 5.4 million, and the number of total separations was revised up by 
20,000 to 5.3 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised down by 10,000 to 3.3 
million, and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised up by 39,000 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 March 2025 are scheduled to be 
released on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).