Labor & Economy
Job Openings Hold Near 7.5 Million as Worker Quits Increase
Federal survey data show little monthly change in openings, hires and total separations, while quits rose to 3.4 million.
A mostly steady headline
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated 7.5 million job openings in September, with 5.4 million hires and 5.3 million total separations. Each was described as little changed from August. Within separations, quits increased to 3.4 million, while layoffs and discharges were little changed at 1.6 million. The report was released November 3 and describes labor-market activity during September.
Where movement appeared
Openings increased in state and local government excluding education by 104,000. Hires increased in accommodation and food services by 158,000. That industry also recorded a 195,000 increase in total separations and a 197,000 increase in quits. Arts, entertainment and recreation quits decreased by 19,000, while layoffs and discharges fell by 70,000 in health care and social assistance.
How to read quits
BLS notes that quits are generally voluntary and can indicate workers' willingness or ability to leave a job. The measure is informative, but it does not reveal a worker's reason or what happened next. A higher quits count can accompany job switching, retirement or other decisions. It should be read with hiring, payroll, unemployment and wage data rather than converted into a single verdict on labor-market strength.
August was revised
The agency revised August job openings up by 111,000 to 7.2 million and hires up by 79,000 to 5.3 million. Total separations were revised up by 105,000 to 5.2 million. Those changes reflect additional business reports and recalculated seasonal factors. Revisions are a normal part of survey-based statistics and show why precise month-to-month comparisons can change after the first publication.
What comes next
The October JOLTS report is scheduled for December 1. BLS will publish the October employment report on November 6, which measures different aspects of the labor market. Job openings are positions employers seek to fill at month's end; payroll employment counts jobs, and unemployment is based on households. Combining the releases provides a more complete view than treating any one number as the entire economy.
Primary evidence
Reporting note: This independently composed article is based on the linked primary records. Publication and event dates are stated separately. Agency claims are identified as such; an allegation, charge or scheduled event is not presented as a finding, conviction or completed event. Readers should consult the official record for amendments and later action.