by Calculated Risk on 1/07/2026 10:00:00 AM
From the BLS: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary
The number of job openings was little changed at 7.1 million in November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires were little changed and total separations were unchanged
at 5.1 million each. Within separations, both quits (3.2 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.7 million)
were little changed.
emphasis added
The following graph shows job openings (black line), hires (dark blue), Layoff, Discharges and other (red column), and Quits (light blue column) from the JOLTS.
This series started in December 2000.
Note: The difference between JOLTS hires and separations is similar to the CES (payroll survey) net jobs headline numbers. This report is for November; the employment report to be released on Friday will be for December.
Click on graph for larger image.
Note that hires (dark blue) and total separations (red and light blue columns stacked) are usually pretty close each month. This is a measure of labor market turnover. When the blue line is above the two stacked columns, the economy is adding net jobs – when it is below the columns, the economy is losing jobs.
The spike in layoffs and discharges in March 2020 is labeled, but off the chart to better show the usual data.
Jobs openings decreased in November to 7.15 million from 7.45 million in October.
Quits were up 4% year-over-year. These are voluntary separations. (See light blue columns at bottom of graph for trend for “quits”).
