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On the last business day of December, the number of job openings were little changed at 6.6 million, a decrease of 358,000 from February 2020. There were 1,523,000 job openings in professional and business services, an increase of 296,000 from the prior month. Since February 2020, job openings in professional and business services increased by 166,000.
Industry | Net change | Job openings (Feb. 2020) | Job openings (Dec. 2020) |
---|---|---|---|
Professional and business services |
166,000 | 1,357,000 | 1,523,000 |
Nondurable goods manufacturing |
58,000 | 153,000 | 211,000 |
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities |
41,000 | 270,000 | 311,000 |
Health care and social assistance |
34,000 | 1,131,000 | 1,165,000 |
Retail trade |
33,000 | 715,000 | 748,000 |
Durable goods manufacturing |
-6,000 | 269,000 | 263,000 |
Other services |
-6,000 | 232,000 | 226,000 |
Mining and logging |
-10,000 | 26,000 | 16,000 |
Wholesale trade |
-13,000 | 183,000 | 170,000 |
Federal government |
-24,000 | 119,000 | 95,000 |
Information |
-36,000 | 132,000 | 96,000 |
Real estate and rental and leasing |
-37,000 | 94,000 | 57,000 |
Educational services |
-39,000 | 121,000 | 82,000 |
Arts, entertainment, and recreation |
-69,000 | 135,000 | 66,000 |
Finance and insurance |
-83,000 | 306,000 | 223,000 |
Construction |
-101,000 | 296,000 | 195,000 |
Accommodation and food services |
-120,000 | 815,000 | 695,000 |
State and local government |
-147,000 | 649,000 | 502,000 |
On the last business day of December 2020, job openings decreased in state and local government, excluding education (-65,000); arts, entertainment, and recreation (-50,000); and nondurable goods manufacturing (-30,000) from the prior month. In all of state and local government, job openings decreased by 147,000 since February 2020.
The December 2020 job openings rate for total nonfarm was 4.5 percent, little changed from the prior month. Job openings rates in professional and business services; accommodation and food services; health care and social assistance; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; and retail trade were higher than the overall rate.
Months | Mining and logging | Construction | Durable goods manufacturing | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | |
Jan 2020 |
2.8% | 2.7% | 689,000 | 5.7% | 3.4% | 7,615,000 | 2.2% | 3.1% | 8,002,000 |
Feb 2020 |
3.4 | 3.4 | 690,000 | 5.1 | 3.7 | 7,648,000 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 8,007,000 |
Mar 2020 |
2.7 | 1.7 | 674,000 | 5.1 | 3.1 | 7,557,000 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 7,961,000 |
Apr 2020 |
2.1 | 1.5 | 622,000 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 6,535,000 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 7,062,000 |
May 2020 |
2.6 | 1.5 | 601,000 | 9.7 | 4.3 | 7,004,000 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 7,201,000 |
Jun 2020 |
1.8 | 2.5 | 597,000 | 7.0 | 3.3 | 7,171,000 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 7,472,000 |
Jul 2020 |
3.4 | 2.6 | 593,000 | 5.5 | 4.4 | 7,197,000 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 7,502,000 |
Aug 2020 |
2.6 | 2.4 | 589,000 | 5.5 | 3.7 | 7,223,000 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 7,500,000 |
Sep 2020 |
3.1 | 2.7 | 592,000 | 5.4 | 3.0 | 7,256,000 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 7,538,000 |
Oct 2020 |
2.8 | 3.2 | 594,000 | 5.5 | 3.2 | 7,329,000 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 7,550,000 |
Nov 2020 |
3.9 | 2.4 | 597,000 | 5.4 | 3.0 | 7,353,000 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 7,580,000 |
Dec 2020 |
4.0 | 2.4 | 600,000 | 5.6 | 2.6 | 7,395,000 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 7,598,000 |
Months | Nondurable goods manufacturing | Wholesale trade | Retail trade | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | |
Jan 2020 |
2.9% | 3.1% | 4,790,000 | 2.3% | 2.8% | 5,901,100 | 5.2% | 4.6% | 15,605,200 |
Feb 2020 |
2.9 | 3.1 | 4,792,000 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 5,895,200 | 5.2 | 4.4 | 15,609,800 |
Mar 2020 |
2.9 | 2.7 | 4,757,000 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 5,876,600 | 4.9 | 3.9 | 15,483,600 |
Apr 2020 |
3.8 | 3.2 | 4,352,000 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 5,486,000 | 5.4 | 3.8 | 13,235,300 |
May 2020 |
5.3 | 3.1 | 4,456,000 | 3.4 | 2.7 | 5,508,600 | 6.5 | 4.7 | 13,644,100 |
Jun 2020 |
3.9 | 3.6 | 4,527,000 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 5,556,900 | 6.3 | 4.4 | 14,502,800 |
Jul 2020 |
3.6 | 4.3 | 4,535,000 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 5,537,400 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 14,742,900 |
Aug 2020 |
3.9 | 4.6 | 4,568,000 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 5,544,500 | 5.7 | 4.5 | 14,995,800 |
Sep 2020 |
3.6 | 4.7 | 4,585,000 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 5,578,400 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 15,025,300 |
Oct 2020 |
3.4 | 4.9 | 4,605,000 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 5,587,600 | 5.1 | 4.1 | 15,131,800 |
Nov 2020 |
3.8 | 5.0 | 4,616,000 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 5,602,400 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 15,129,700 |
Dec 2020 |
3.8 | 4.4 | 4,629,000 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 5,617,900 | 5.4 | 4.7 | 15,264,600 |
Months | Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | Information | Finance and insurance | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | |
Jan 2020 |
4.2% | 4.3% | 6,345,700 | 3.0% | 5.0% | 2,910,000 | 2.2% | 4.6% | 6,498,500 |
Feb 2020 |
4.1 | 4.2 | 6,370,500 | 3.3 | 4.4 | 2,914,000 | 2.5 | 4.5 | 6,513,400 |
Mar 2020 |
3.8 | 4.4 | 6,369,100 | 2.6 | 4.0 | 2,898,000 | 2.3 | 3.9 | 6,506,200 |
Apr 2020 |
3.3 | 3.7 | 5,792,000 | 1.5 | 4.8 | 2,633,000 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 6,473,500 |
May 2020 |
4.8 | 3.0 | 5,781,000 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2,594,000 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 6,474,300 |
Jun 2020 |
5.0 | 4.1 | 5,874,700 | 2.2 | 3.6 | 2,602,000 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 6,475,600 |
Jul 2020 |
5.1 | 3.8 | 5,924,700 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 2,592,000 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 6,480,300 |
Aug 2020 |
4.3 | 3.9 | 6,012,300 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 2,617,000 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 6,493,300 |
Sep 2020 |
5.1 | 4.7 | 6,058,000 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 2,659,000 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 6,509,300 |
Oct 2020 |
6.2 | 4.2 | 6,127,800 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 2,650,000 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 6,526,400 |
Nov 2020 |
6.7 | 5.0 | 6,250,800 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 2,650,000 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 6,532,800 |
Dec 2020 |
4.5 | 4.8 | 6,225,700 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 2,656,000 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 6,539,200 |
Months | Real estate and rental and leasing | Professional and business services | Educational services | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | |
Jan 2020 |
3.2% | 4.7% | 2,350,600 | 5.4% | 5.6% | 21,437,000 | 2.8% | 3.4% | 3,786,500 |
Feb 2020 |
3.4 | 3.8 | 2,361,600 | 5.1 | 5.9 | 21,469,000 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 3,778,700 |
Mar 2020 |
2.9 | 3.1 | 2,343,400 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 21,318,000 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 3,696,300 |
Apr 2020 |
1.6 | 3.0 | 2,122,000 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 19,082,000 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 3,253,500 |
May 2020 |
4.1 | 2.2 | 2,138,800 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 19,247,000 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 3,271,500 |
Jun 2020 |
2.6 | 2.9 | 2,158,000 | 6.0 | 5.2 | 19,568,000 | 3.4 | 2.5 | 3,359,600 |
Jul 2020 |
4.3 | 3.2 | 2,165,200 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 19,715,000 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3,371,600 |
Aug 2020 |
3.3 | 2.7 | 2,181,000 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 19,915,000 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 3,460,900 |
Sep 2020 |
3.4 | 2.7 | 2,202,700 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 20,055,000 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 3,403,900 |
Oct 2020 |
3.8 | 3.3 | 2,219,600 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 20,296,000 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 3,393,800 |
Nov 2020 |
3.3 | 2.5 | 2,223,600 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 20,391,000 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 3,388,200 |
Dec 2020 |
3.3 | 2.5 | 2,234,600 | 5.7 | 6.9 | 20,547,000 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 3,318,700 |
Months | Health care and social assistance | Arts, entertainment, and recreation | Accommodation and food services | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | |
Jan 2020 |
3.1% | 5.3% | 20,726,900 | 7.1% | 5.6% | 2,502,500 | 6.6% | 5.1% | 14,355,000 |
Feb 2020 |
3.2 | 5.2 | 20,786,500 | 6.8 | 5.2 | 2,501,900 | 6.4 | 5.4 | 14,412,900 |
Mar 2020 |
2.8 | 5.0 | 20,650,400 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 2,406,200 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 13,726,600 |
Apr 2020 |
2.6 | 4.9 | 18,468,500 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 1,168,800 | 6.2 | 3.5 | 7,522,600 |
May 2020 |
5.3 | 4.5 | 18,835,800 | 12.1 | 7.8 | 1,224,100 | 15.6 | 5.6 | 8,922,100 |
Jun 2020 |
4.1 | 4.9 | 19,311,500 | 10.9 | 7.1 | 1,517,200 | 15.3 | 6.5 | 10,640,500 |
Jul 2020 |
3.5 | 5.7 | 19,512,900 | 10.6 | 5.6 | 1,626,500 | 9.1 | 5.8 | 11,197,700 |
Aug 2020 |
3.2 | 5.2 | 19,623,100 | 8.0 | 4.9 | 1,647,100 | 7.3 | 5.8 | 11,315,700 |
Sep 2020 |
3.3 | 5.3 | 19,748,000 | 6.8 | 4.8 | 1,735,200 | 8.2 | 5.7 | 11,622,000 |
Oct 2020 |
3.2 | 5.9 | 19,841,000 | 7.6 | 5.4 | 1,779,500 | 7.8 | 5.8 | 11,842,300 |
Nov 2020 |
3.1 | 5.6 | 19,889,400 | 7.8 | 6.1 | 1,816,500 | 8.0 | 6.2 | 11,815,600 |
Dec 2020 |
3.1 | 5.5 | 19,928,500 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 1,713,600 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 11,381,900 |
Months | Other services | Federal government | State and local government | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | Hires rate | Job openings rate | Employment | |
Jan 2020 |
3.5% | 4.3% | 5,930,000 | 1.6% | 3.8% | 2,852,000 | 1.7% | 3.3% | 19,937,000 |
Feb 2020 |
3.8 | 3.8 | 5,937,000 | 1.8 | 4.0 | 2,863,000 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 19,972,000 |
Mar 2020 |
2.8 | 2.4 | 5,842,000 | 2.0 | 4.3 | 2,879,000 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 19,895,000 |
Apr 2020 |
3.6 | 3.1 | 4,527,000 | 1.6 | 3.8 | 2,883,000 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 18,943,000 |
May 2020 |
12.0 | 3.9 | 4,777,000 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 2,877,000 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 18,437,000 |
Jun 2020 |
5.9 | 4.9 | 5,153,000 | 1.4 | 3.7 | 2,876,000 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 18,477,000 |
Jul 2020 |
3.2 | 5.1 | 5,316,000 | 2.5 | 8.8 | 2,897,000 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 18,659,000 |
Aug 2020 |
4.1 | 4.3 | 5,390,000 | 10.0 | 3.7 | 3,153,000 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 18,920,000 |
Sep 2020 |
5.5 | 4.3 | 5,440,000 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 3,117,000 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 18,740,000 |
Oct 2020 |
5.1 | 4.1 | 5,488,000 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 2,975,000 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 18,608,000 |
Nov 2020 |
3.8 | 4.2 | 5,485,000 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 2,888,000 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 18,600,000 |
Dec 2020 |
3.3 | 4.0 | 5,467,000 | 1.8 | 3.2 | 2,889,000 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 18,576,000 |
The hires rate for total nonfarm in December was 3.9 percent, down from 4.2 percent in November 2020. Hires rates in accommodation and food services; professional and business services; construction; retail trade; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; and mining and logging were higher than the overall rate.
These data are from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary. To learn more, see "Job Openings and Labor Turnover — December 2020." Also see more charts on job openings, hires, and separations, and Impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on Job Openings and Labor Turnover data for December 2020.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Job openings in professional and business services up by 166,000 since February 2020 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2021/job-openings-in-professional-and-business-services-up-by-166000-since-february-2020.htm (visited October 31, 2024).