Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS)

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) is a monthly survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) that measures the number of job openings, hires, and separations in the United States. The survey is used to track the health of the labor market and to make projections about future employment growth.

The JOLTS survey is conducted by sending a questionnaire to a sample of businesses across the country. The businesses are asked to provide information on the number of job openings, hires, and separations that occurred during the previous month. The survey results are then used to calculate the job openings rate, the hiring rate, and the separations rate.

The job openings rate is the number of job openings per 100 unemployed workers. The hiring rate is the number of hires per 100 unemployed workers. The separations rate is the number of separations per 100 employed workers.

The JOLTS survey is an important indicator of the health of the labor market. A high job openings rate indicates that there are more job openings than unemployed workers, which is a sign of a strong labor market. A low job openings rate indicates that there are fewer job openings than unemployed workers, which is a sign of a weak labor market.

The JOLTS survey is also used to make projections about future employment growth. The BLS uses the survey results to forecast the number of jobs that will be created in the coming months. This information is used by businesses, investors, and policymakers to make decisions about the future.

The JOLTS survey is a valuable tool for tracking the health of the labor market and for making projections about future employment growth. The survey is released on the first Friday of each month.