STATE JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – DECEMBER 2021
Republished with permission of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Job openings rates increased in 7 states, decreased in 4 states, and were little changed in 39 states and
the District of Columbia on the last business day of December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported today. Hires rates decreased in 6 states, increased in 1 state, and were little changed in 43 states
and the District of Columbia. Total separations rates decreased in 15 states, increased in 2 states, and
were little changed in 33 states and the District of Columbia. Nationally, the job openings, hires, and
total separations rates were little changed in December. (See tables A-E.)
This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, total separations, quits, and
layoffs and discharges for the total nonfarm sector and for all states and the District of Columbia.
Job Openings
In December, job openings rates increased in 7 states and decreased in 4 states. The largest increases in
job openings rates occurred in Wyoming (+1.8 percentage points), Pennsylvania (+1.1 points), and
Minnesota (+0.9 point). The job openings rates decreased in Alabama, Massachusetts, Michigan, and
New York (-0.5 point each). The national job openings rate was unchanged. (See table A.)
The number of job openings increased in 9 states and decreased in 6 states in December. The largest
increases occurred in Pennsylvania (+73,000), New Jersey (+29,000), and Minnesota (+28,000). The
largest decreases in the job openings level occurred in New York (-52,000), Michigan (-24,000), and
Ohio (-22,000). Nationally, the number of job openings was little changed. (See table A.)
Hires
In December, hires rates decreased in 6 states and increased in 1 state. The largest decreases in hires
rates occurred in Hawaii (-2.1 percentage points), Florida (-1.3 points), and Idaho (-0.8 point). The
increase occurred in Virginia (+0.5 percentage point). The national hires rate was little changed. (See
table B.)
The number of hires decreased in 7 states in December. The largest decreases occurred in Florida
(-116,000), California (-76,000), and Illinois (-27,000). Nationally, the number of hires decreased
333,000. (See table B.)
Total Separations
In December, total separations rates decreased in 15 states and increased in 2 states. The largest
decreases occurred in New Hampshire (-2.1 percentage points), and Connecticut and Montana (-1.5
points each). The total separations rate increased in Alaska (+2.2 percentage points) and Virginia (+0.8
point). The national total separations rate was little changed over the month. (See table C.)
The number of total separations decreased in 15 states in December and increased in 2 states. The
largest decreases occurred in Pennsylvania (-55,000), Illinois (-40,000), and Georgia (-39,000). The
increases in total separations level occurred in Virginia (+31,000) and Alaska (+7,000). Nationally, the
number of total separations decreased 305,000. (See table C.)
Quits
In December, quits rates decreased in 13 states and increased in 4 states. The largest decreases in quits
rates occurred in New Hampshire (-1.6 percentage points), Montana (-1.0 point), and Kentucky (-0.9
point). The largest increases in the quits rate occurred in Alaska (+1.6 percentage points), Virginia (+0.7
point), and Ohio (+0.5 point). Over the month, the national quits rate was little changed. (See table D.)
The number of quits decreased in 12 states and increased in 4 states in December. The largest decreases
in the quits level occurred in North Carolina (-34,000), Illinois (-30,000), and Georgia (-24,000). The
largest increases in the quits level occurred in Virginia (+28,000), Ohio (+26,000), and Missouri
(+10,000). Nationally, the number of quits edged down over the month (-161,000). (See table D.)
Layoffs and Discharges
In December, layoffs and discharges rates decreased in 10 states and increased in 1 state. The largest
decreases in layoffs and discharges rates occurred in Wyoming (-1.1 percentage points), Connecticut
(-0.9 point), and Montana and Pennsylvania (-0.7 point each). The increase occurred in Indiana
(+0.3 percentage point). The national layoffs and discharges rate was little changed. (See table E.)
The number of layoffs and discharges decreased in 9 states and increased in 1 state in December. The
largest decreases in layoffs and discharges were in Pennsylvania (-44,000), Florida (-36,000), and New
Jersey (-25,000). The increase occurred in Indiana (+11,000). Nationally, the number of layoffs and
discharges was little changed over the month. (See table E.)
For more information, please see the JOLTS interactive charts at www.bls.gov/charts/state-job-
openings-and-labor-turnover/state-job-openings-rates.htm#.
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey State estimates for January 2022 are scheduled to
be released on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
Table A: States with significant changes in job openings from Nov 2021 to Dec 2021, seasonally adjusted
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands) | Rates
|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------
State | Nov | Dec | Over-the-month | Nov | Dec | Over-the-month
| 2021 | 2021(p)| change(p) | 2021 | 2021(p)| change(p)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total U.S..............|10,775 |10,925 | 150 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 0.0
Alabama................| 155 | 144 | -11 | 7.0 | 6.5 | -0.5
Kentucky...............| 138 | 151 | 13 | 6.8 | 7.4 | 0.6
Maine..................| 44 | 50 | 6 | 6.7 | 7.5 | 0.8
Massachusetts..........| 290 | 269 | -21 | 7.5 | 7.0 | -0.5
Michigan...............| 345 | 321 | -24 | 7.5 | 7.0 | -0.5
Minnesota..............| 195 | 223 | 28 | 6.3 | 7.2 | 0.9
Montana................| 41 | 44 | 3 | 7.8 | 8.3 | 0.5*
New Jersey.............| 280 | 309 | 29 | 6.4 | 7.1 | 0.7
New York...............| 640 | 588 | -52 | 6.6 | 6.1 | -0.5
North Carolina.........| 358 | 377 | 19 | 7.3 | 7.6 | 0.3*
Ohio...................| 426 | 404 | -22 | 7.3 | 7.0 | -0.3*
Pennsylvania...........| 422 | 495 | 73 | 6.8 | 7.9 | 1.1
Vermont................| 25 | 28 | 3 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 0.8
Wisconsin..............| 218 | 204 | -14 | 7.0 | 6.6 | -0.4*
Wyoming................| 21 | 27 | 6 | 7.1 | 8.9 | 1.8
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
* Not significant.
Table B: States with significant changes in hires from Nov 2021 to Dec 2021, seasonally adjusted
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands) | Rates
|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------
State | Nov | Dec | Over-the-month | Nov | Dec | Over-the-month
| 2021 | 2021(p)| change(p) | 2021 | 2021(p)| change(p)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total U.S..............| 6,596 | 6,263 | -333 | 4.4 | 4.2 | -0.2
California.............| 700 | 624 | -76 | 4.2 | 3.7 | -0.5
Florida................| 457 | 341 | -116 | 5.1 | 3.8 | -1.3
Hawaii.................| 37 | 25 | -12 | 6.4 | 4.3 | -2.1
Idaho..................| 44 | 38 | -6 | 5.6 | 4.8 | -0.8
Illinois...............| 277 | 250 | -27 | 4.7 | 4.2 | -0.5
Mississippi............| 59 | 52 | -7 | 5.2 | 4.5 | -0.7
New Mexico.............| 38 | 32 | -6 | 4.6 | 3.9 | -0.7*
Virginia...............| 149 | 169 | 20* | 3.7 | 4.2 | 0.5
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
* Not significant.
Table C: States with significant changes in total separations from Nov 2021 to Dec 2021, seasonally adjusted
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands) | Rates
|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------
State | Nov | Dec | Over-the-month | Nov | Dec | Over-the-month
| 2021 | 2021(p)| change(p) | 2021 | 2021(p)| change(p)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total U.S..............| 6,205 | 5,900 | -305 | 4.2 | 4.0 | -0.2
Alabama................| 103 | 90 | -13 | 5.0 | 4.4 | -0.6
Alaska.................| 17 | 24 | 7 | 5.5 | 7.7 | 2.2
Connecticut............| 74 | 51 | -23 | 4.6 | 3.1 | -1.5
Georgia................| 273 | 234 | -39 | 5.9 | 5.0 | -0.9
Illinois...............| 247 | 207 | -40 | 4.2 | 3.5 | -0.7
Iowa...................| 68 | 56 | -12 | 4.4 | 3.6 | -0.8
Kentucky...............| 105 | 86 | -19 | 5.5 | 4.5 | -1.0
Louisiana..............| 97 | 84 | -13 | 5.2 | 4.5 | -0.7
Maine..................| 32 | 25 | -7 | 5.2 | 4.1 | -1.1
Montana................| 31 | 24 | -7 | 6.4 | 4.9 | -1.5
New Hampshire..........| 40 | 26 | -14 | 6.0 | 3.9 | -2.1
New Jersey.............| 159 | 130 | -29 | 3.9 | 3.2 | -0.7
North Carolina.........| 238 | 209 | -29 | 5.2 | 4.6 | -0.6
North Dakota...........| 24 | 20 | -4 | 5.7 | 4.8 | -0.9
Oklahoma...............| 87 | 73 | -14 | 5.3 | 4.4 | -0.9
Pennsylvania...........| 209 | 154 | -55 | 3.6 | 2.7 | -0.9
Virginia...............| 140 | 171 | 31 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 0.8
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
* Not significant.
Table D: States with significant changes in quits from Nov 2021 to Dec 2021, seasonally adjusted
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands) | Rates
|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------
State | Nov | Dec | Over-the-month | Nov | Dec | Over-the-month
| 2021 | 2021(p)| change(p) | 2021 | 2021(p)| change(p)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total U.S..............| 4,499 | 4,338 | -161 | 3.0 | 2.9 | -0.1
Alabama................| 78 | 63 | -15 | 3.8 | 3.1 | -0.7
Alaska.................| 12 | 17 | 5 | 3.9 | 5.5 | 1.6
Connecticut............| 47 | 39 | -8 | 2.9 | 2.4 | -0.5
Georgia................| 199 | 175 | -24 | 4.3 | 3.8 | -0.5
Illinois...............| 187 | 157 | -30 | 3.2 | 2.7 | -0.5
Iowa...................| 44 | 39 | -5* | 2.9 | 2.5 | -0.4
Kansas.................| 44 | 38 | -6 | 3.2 | 2.7 | -0.5
Kentucky...............| 79 | 62 | -17 | 4.2 | 3.3 | -0.9
Maine..................| 22 | 19 | -3 | 3.6 | 3.1 | -0.5
Missouri...............| 82 | 92 | 10 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 0.3
Montana................| 21 | 16 | -5 | 4.3 | 3.3 | -1.0
New Hampshire..........| 29 | 19 | -10 | 4.4 | 2.8 | -1.6
North Carolina.........| 181 | 147 | -34 | 4.0 | 3.2 | -0.8
North Dakota...........| 17 | 13 | -4 | 4.0 | 3.1 | -0.9
Ohio...................| 140 | 166 | 26 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 0.5
Oklahoma...............| 60 | 53 | -7 | 3.6 | 3.2 | -0.4*
Pennsylvania...........| 143 | 133 | -10* | 2.5 | 2.3 | -0.2
Virginia...............| 102 | 130 | 28 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 0.7
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
* Not significant.
Table E: States with significant changes in layoffs and discharges from Nov 2021 to Dec 2021, seasonally adjusted
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands) | Rates
|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------
State | Nov | Dec | Over-the-month | Nov | Dec | Over-the-month
| 2021 | 2021(p)| change(p) | 2021 | 2021(p)| change(p)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total U.S..............| 1,309 | 1,169 | -140 | 0.9 | 0.8 | -0.1
Connecticut............| 21 | 7 | -14 | 1.3 | 0.4 | -0.9
Florida................| 97 | 61 | -36 | 1.1 | 0.7 | -0.4
Indiana................| 21 | 32 | 11 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.3
Iowa...................| 20 | 14 | -6 | 1.3 | 0.9 | -0.4
Maine..................| 7 | 4 | -3 | 1.1 | 0.6 | -0.5
Maryland...............| 27 | 19 | -8* | 1.0 | 0.7 | -0.3
Montana................| 8 | 5 | -3 | 1.7 | 1.0 | -0.7
New Hampshire..........| 8 | 4 | -4 | 1.2 | 0.6 | -0.6
New Jersey.............| 45 | 20 | -25 | 1.1 | 0.5 | -0.6
Pennsylvania...........| 55 | 11 | -44 | 0.9 | 0.2 | -0.7
Wyoming................| 6 | 3 | -3 | 2.2 | 1.1 | -1.1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
* Not significant.
Table 10. Layoffs and dicharges levels and rates for total nonfarm by state, not seasonally adjusted
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