The number of job openings in September was 3.4 million, up from 3.1 million in August. Although the number of job openings remained below the 4.4 million openings when the recession began in December 2007, the level in September was 1.2 million higher than in July 2009 (the most recent trough for the series). The number of job openings has increased 38 percent since the end of the recession in June 2009.
The number of job openings in September (not seasonally adjusted)increased over the year for total nonfarm, total private, and government. Several industries experienced an increase over the year in the number of job openings; the number of job openings decreased for federal government. The number of job openings rose in 3 out of 4 regions.
Hires
In September, the hires rate was little changed at 3.2 percent for total nonfarm. The hires rate increased in construction and professional and business services as well as in 3 out of 4 regions. The number of hires in September was 4.2 million, up from 3.6 million in October 2009 (the most recent trough) but below the 5.0 million hires recorded when the recession began in December 2007. The number of hires has increased 17 percent since the end of the recession in June 2009.
Over the past 12 months, the hires rate (not seasonally adjusted) was little changed for total nonfarm, total private, and government. The hires rate increased for construction and professional and business services. The hires rate increased in the Midwest and decreased in the Northeast.
Separations
The total separations figure includes voluntary quits, involuntary layoffs and discharges, and other separations, including retirements. Total separations is also referred to as turnover.
The seasonally adjusted total separations rate was little changed in September for total nonfarm, total private, and government. Over the year, the total separations rate (not seasonally adjusted) increased for total nonfarm and total private but decreased for government.
The quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to change jobs. In September, the quits rate was essentially unchanged for total nonfarm, total private, and government. The number of quits rose from 1.5 million in January 2010 (the most recent trough) to 2.0 million in September, although it remained below the 2.8 million recorded when the recession began in December 2007.
The number of quits (not seasonally adjusted) in September 2011 increased from 12 months earlier for total nonfarm and total private and was essentially unchanged for government. Several industries experienced an increase in the number of quits over the year.
The layoffs and discharges component of total separations is seasonally adjusted only at the total nonfarm, total private, and government levels. The layoffs and discharges rate remained unchanged in September for total nonfarm and government. The rate was little changed for total private. The number of layoffs and discharges for total nonfarm has declined to 1.8 million in September 2011 from 2.5 million in February 2009 (peak), returning to pre-recession levels.
The layoffs and discharges level (not seasonally adjusted) for total nonfarm and total private were little changed but declined over the 12 months ending in September 2011 for government. Over the year, the number of layoffs and discharges was little changed for most industries and in all four regions.
The other separations series is not seasonally adjusted. In September 2011, there were 329,000 other separations for total nonfarm, 276,000 for total private, and 53,000 for government. Compared to September 2010, the number of other separations was down for government and the South region.
Relative Contributions to Separations
The total separations level is influenced by the relative contribution of its three components -quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Other separations is historically a very small portion of total separations; it has rarely been above 10 percent of total separations. The percentage of total separations attributable to the individual components has varied over time at the total nonfarm level,but for the majority of the months since the series began in December 2000, the proportion of quits has exceeded the proportion of layoffs and discharges. For most of the months between November 2008 and November 2010, however, the proportion of layoffs and discharges was equal to or greater than the proportion of quits. Since November 2010, the series have returned to their historical pattern. In September 2011, the proportion of quits for total nonfarm was 49 percent, and the proportion of layoffs and discharges was 42 percent.
