The number of job openings in May was 3.0 million, unchanged from April. The number of job openings in May was 862,000 higher than in July 2009 (the series trough) but remains well below the 4.4 million openings when the recession began in December 2007.
The number of job openings in May (not seasonally adjusted) rose over the last 12 months for total private as the number of job openings rose in durable goods manufacturing; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; information; and healthcare and social assistance. The level decreased over the year for federal government due largely to a drop in the number of temporary workers needed to conduct the 2010 Census.
Hires
In May, the hires rate was unchanged at 3.1 percent for total nonfarm. The hires rate was also essentially unchanged for all industries and regions. At 4.1 million in May, the number of hires is up from 3.6 million in October 2009 (the series trough) but remains below the 5.0 million hires when the recession began in December 2007.
Over the past 12 months, the hires rate (not seasonally adjusted) showed no significant over-the-year increase in any industry or region. The hires rate fell in federal government and in the West.
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 essentially unchanged in May for total nonfarm (3.1 percent) and government (1.3 percent); the rate increased for total private (to 3.5 percent). Over the year, the total separations rate (not seasonally adjusted) was essentially unchanged for total nonfarm, total private, and government.
The quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to change jobs. In May, the quits rate was essentially unchanged for total nonfarm (1.5 percent), total private (1.7 percent), and government (0.6 percent). Although the number of quits rose from 1.5 million in January 2010 (the most recent trough) to 2.0 million in May 2011, the number remained below the 2.8 million quits when the recession began in December 2007.
The number of quits (not seasonally adjusted) in May 2011 was higher than 12 months earlier for total nonfarm, total private, and government. Several industries experienced a rise in the number of quits over the year, and federal government experienced a decline. In the regions, the number of quits rose in the South but was little changed in the other three regions.
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 was little changed in May for total nonfarm, total private, and government. The number of layoffs and discharges for total nonfarm was 1.8 million in May, up slightly from the recent low point of 1.5 million in January 2011, but still well below the peak of 2.5 million in February 2009.
The layoffs and discharges level (not seasonally adjusted) was essentially unchanged over the 12 months ending in May for total nonfarm and total private. The level decreased over the year for federal government, returning to a more typical level after a large number of layoffs in May 2010 of temporary Census workers. The number of layoffs and discharges was steady in the regions.
