Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey News Release — 2009-01-13

On the last business day of November, there were 2.8 million job openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.0 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The job openings rate declined in November, matching the series low set in 2003. The hires rate fell sharply in November to a series low of 2.6 percent. The total separations rate was little changed in November, but the quits rate declined further to 1.4 percent, also a series low. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region. Job Openings The number of job openings declined in November 2008, continuing the downward trend begun over a year ago. At 2.8 million in November, openings were down 1.2 million, or 30 percent, from a year ago.