US February JOLTS job openings data April 13, 2018

  • The number of job openings was little changed at 6.052 million on the last business day of February. The estimate was 6.024M
  • The prior month was revised lower to 6.228M from 6.312M previously reported
  • The number of hires was little changed at 5.5 million in February. The hires rate was 3.7 percent.
  • The number of total separations was little changed at 5.2 million in February. The total separations rate was 3.5 percent.
  • The number of quits was little changed at 3.2 million in February. The quits rate was 2.2 percent.
  • There were 1.6 million layoffs and discharges in February, little changed from January. The layoffs and discharges rate was 1.1 percent in February

The BLS said:

  • The number of job openings edged down for total private and was little changed for government.
  • Job openings increased in finance and insurance (+69,000) and state and local government education (+31,000)
  • Job openings decreased in a number of industries with the largest decreases being in accommodation and food services (-91,000), construction (-56,000), and wholesale trade (-38,000)

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 65.6 million and separations totaled 63.3 million, yielding a net employment gain of 2.3 million. These totals include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.

Full report can be found HERE from the Bureau of Labor Statistics