JOLTS: Quit rate jumps to 2.0% in September

Posted - Filed under JOLTS, Release Data.

Our first set of Charts on the “JOLTS Survey” is now available.

From today’s BLS Release:

There were 4.7 million job openings on the last business day of September, little changed from 4.9
million in August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Hires (5.0 million) and separations
(4.8 million) increased in September. Within separations, the quits rate (2.0 percent) increased and the
layoffs and discharges rate (1.2 percent) was unchanged. This release includes estimates of the number
and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the nonfarm sector by industry and by four
geographic regions.

Job Openings and Labor Turnover

Click to enlarge

The chart at the right shows the uptick in Quits at the bottom right corner. This is normally viewed as a sign of strength in the employment market, with job holders able and confident enough to move jobs.

For more charts looking at individual industries, US regions as well as a comparison with the Payrolls Survey, please visit our JOLTS Charts page which will be updated each month.