Job openings down 5.06 percent in July

Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released their latest monthly read of job availability and labor turnover (JOLT) showing that private non-farm job “openings” declined 5.06% since June but remained 2.27% above the level seen in July 2012 while private non-farm job “hires” rose 2.40% from June remaining 3.61% above the level seen in July 2012.

Job “layoffs and discharges” declined 5.19% from June falling 3.85% below the level seen last year while quitting activity increased 3.64% from June remaining 5.16% above the level seen in July 2012. 

It’s important to understand that job “quits” are included as a component of the “separations” data series as “quitting” is a valid means of workers “separating” from employers but their inclusion tends to create an overall procyclical trend in what would otherwise be logically thought of as a countercyclical process (i.e. downturn leads to increase in separations not decrease).