For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, April 7, 2020
USDL-20-0565
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JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – FEBRUARY 2020
The number of job openings was little changed at 6.9 million on the last business day of February, the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires and separations were little
changed at 5.9 million and 5.6 million, respectively. Within separations, the quits rate was unchanged at
2.3 percent and the layoffs and discharges rate was little changed at 1.2 percent. This release includes
estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by
industry, and by four geographic regions.
Job Openings
On the last business day of February, the job openings level was little changed at 6.9 million and the job
openings rate was also little changed at 4.3 percent. Job openings decreased in real estate and rental and
leasing (-30,000) and information (-29,000). The number of job openings was little changed in all four
regions. (See table 1.)
Hires
In February, the number of hires was little changed at 5.9 million while the rate was unchanged at 3.9
percent. The hires level increased in durable goods manufacturing (+29,000). The number of hires was
little changed in all four regions. (See table 2.)
- 2 -
Separations
Total separations includes quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Total separations is
referred to as turnover. 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 includes separations
due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.
In February, the number and rate of total sep