The number of job openings changed little at 8.1 million on the last business day of May, the U.S. 
Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, both the number of hires and total 
separations were little changed at 5.8 million and 5.4 million, respectively. Within separations, quits 
(3.5 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.7 million) changed little. This release includes estimates of 
the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by industry, and 
by establishment size class. 
        
Job Openings

On the last business day of May, the number of job openings changed little at 8.1 million. This measure 
was down by 1.2 million over the year. The job openings rate was little changed at 4.9 percent in May. 
Job openings decreased in accommodation and food services (-147,000) and in private educational 
services (-34,000). The number of job openings increased in state and local government, excluding 
education (+117,000), durable goods manufacturing (+97,000), and federal government (+37,000). 
(See table 1.)

Hires

In May, the number of hires was little changed at 5.8 million. Over the year, hires were down by 
415,000. The hires rate was little changed at 3.6 percent in May. (See table 2.)

Separations

Total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are generally 
voluntary separations initiated by the employee. Therefore, the quits rate can serve as a measure of 
workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs. Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated 
by the employer. Other separations include separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers 
to other locations of the same firm.

The number of total separations in May changed little at 5.4 million. This measure was down by 
424,000 over the year. The total separations rate remained unchanged at 3.4 percent in May. 
(See table 3.)

In May, the number of quits was little changed at 3.5 million. Over the year, quits were down by 
550,000. The quits rate was 2.2 percent in May, the seventh month in a row. (See table 4.)

In May, the number of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.7 million, and the rate remained 
unchanged at 1.0 percent. (See table 5.)

The number of other separations was little changed in May at 309,000. (See table 6.)

Establishment Size Class

In May, for establishments with 1 to 9 employees, the job openings rate, hires rate, and total separations 
rate changed little. For establishments with 5,000 or more employees, the layoffs and discharges rate 
increased while the job openings rate, hires rate, and total separations rate changed little. (See table 7.)

April 2024 Revisions

The number of job openings for April was revised down by 140,000 to 7.9 million, the number of hires 
was revised down by 25,000 to 5.6 million, and the number of total separations was revised down by 
35,000 to 5.3 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised down by 55,000 to 3.5 
million and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised up by 27,000 to 1.5 million. (Monthly 
revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last 
published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.)
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The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for June 2024 are scheduled to be 
released on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).