The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, showing little change in the number of openings in November. Total openings registered at 7.1 million. Over the month, hires and total separations were unchanged at 5.1 million each. Within separations, both quits (3.2 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.7 million) were also steady.
The report includes estimates for the number and rate of job openings, hires and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by industry, and by establishment size class. Job openings include all positions that are open on the last business day of the month. Hires and separations include all changes to the payroll during the entire month.
Though the number of job openings was little changed at 7.1 million in November, that level follows a decrease of 885,000 over the year. The job openings rate, at 4.3%, changed little over the month, though the construction industry provided one bright spot in the numbers, BLS officials suggest, with an increase of 90,000. However, the number of job openings decreased in most other sectors, down in other areas related to the door and window industry, including transportation, warehousing and utilities (-108,000); and wholesale trade (-63,000).
The BLS report indicates that the November number and rate of hires also were little changed at 5.1 million and 3.2%, respectively.
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.
In November, the number and rate of total separations were unchanged at 5.1 million and 3.2%, respectively, and the number and rate of quits were reported as having little changed at 3.2 million and 2%, respectively.
The BLS also released its State Employment and Unemployment Summary this week as well, reporting that unemployment rates were higher in November than a year earlier in 16 states and the District of Columbia, lower in eight states, and mostly unchanged in the remaining 26 states. October 2025 data from the household survey were not collected due to the lapse in federal appropriations; therefore, the unemployment analysis includes over-the-year changes only. The national unemployment rate, at 4.6%, was 0.4 percentage point higher than in November 2024.
For more on employment, as well as the economy, remodeling and construction, see [DWM]’s latest Annual Outlook.