The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey

  • Prior was 5967 (revised from 6044)
  • Quits rate at 2.2%
  • Prior quits rate 2.1%
  • Quits up 177K
  • Hires up 429K
  • Separations up 251K
  • Full report

More detail about job openings:

  • The number of job openings decreased for total private (-283,000) and was little changed for government.
  • Job openings increased in retail trade (+72,000) and
  • educational services (+17,000).
  • Job openings decreased in a number of industries with the largest decreases occurring in construction (-46,000) and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-45,000).

More detail about hires:

  • Hires increased in professional and business services (+121,000),
  • other services (+78,000), and
  • educational services (+25,000).

More detail on quits:

  • The number of quits rose for total private (+159,000) and for government (+19,000).
  • Quits increased in a number of industries with the largest increases occurring in retail trade (+66,000) and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+20,000).
  • The number of quits decreased in arts, entertainment, and recreation (-15,000).

Last month was a surprise to the upside. This report is more of a surprise to the downside. A higher quit rate is a sign that worker are finding work. Hires are up. Separations are also higher but you might argue that the separations sopped up some of the job openings.