The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) published by the
Labor Department on Wednesday showed a 3.6 percent m-o-m drop in the U.S. job
openings in January 2023 after a revised 4.5 percent m-o-m surge (from +5.5
percent m-o-m) in December 2022.
According to the report, employers posted 10.824 million job openings in
January compared to the December reading of 11.234 million (revised from 11.012
million in the last month’s report) and economists’ estimate of 10.500 million.
The job openings rate came in at 6.5 percent in January, down from a revised 6.8
percent (from 6.7 percent) in the previous month. The report revealed that the largest
decreases in job openings occurred in construction (-240,000), accommodation
and food services (-204,000), and finance and insurance (-100,000). These declines,
however, were partly offset by advances in transportation, warehousing, and
utilities (+94,000) and in nondurable goods manufacturing (+50,000).
Meanwhile, the number of hires jumped 1.9 percent m-o-m to 6.372 million
in January from a revised 6.251 million (from 6.165 million) in December. This
was the highest figure since August 2022 (6.478 million). The hiring rate was 4.1
percent, up marginally from an unrevised 4.0 percent in December.
The separation rate was 5.902 million or 3.8 percent in January,
compared to revised 5.906 million or 3.8 percent in December. Within
separations, the quits rate was 2.5 percent (-0.1 p.p. m-o-m), and the layoffs
rate was 1.1 percent (+0.1 p.p. m-o-m).