Recent Updates
- Estonia: PPI (Feb)
- Japan: Population Estimates (Mar), Government Bond Trading Volume by Category of Investors, Machine Tool Orders (Feb)
- China: Local Government Debt (Feb)
- Australia: Leading Indicator of Employment (Mar), ADI Property Exposures Statistics, Authorized Deposit-taking Institution Performance (Q4), WMI Leading Index of Economic Activity, Job Vacancy Report (Feb)
- Hong Kong: RICS Spacious Residential Market Survey (Feb)
- more updates...
Economy in Brief
U.S. Gasoline & Crude Oil Prices Continue to Rise
Retail gasoline prices increased to $2.55 per gallon (-1.9% y/y)...
ZEW's Global Assessments Remain Weak
ZEW survey expectations curled higher this month but continued to stake out very weak readings...
U.S. Home Builder Sentiment Remains Improved
The NAHB-Wells Fargo Composite Housing Market Index held steady at 62 during March...
EMU Trade Surplus Expands on Weak Import Rise
In the EMU, both import and export gains were modest in January...
U.S. JOLTS: Job Openings Remain Abundant
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the total job openings rate increased to 4.8% during January...
by Tom Moeller March 15, 2005
The Job Openings & Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated the job openings rate eased in January to 2.4% versus 2.6% in December. The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings.
The hires rate held in January at December's upwardly revised 3.5%. The hires rate is the number of hires during the month divided by employment.
The total number of job openings fell 5.8% (+15.4% y/y) after a 7.0% gain in December.
Job separations fell 1.7% m/m (+9.2% y/y). The separation rate held steady at 3.3%. Total separations include quits, layoffs, discharges, and other separations as well as retirements. The total separations, or turnover, rate is the total number of separations during the month divided by employment.
The survey dates only to December 2000 but has since followed the movement in nonfarm payrolls.
From the U.S. Department of Labor, a description of the Jolts survey and the latest release is available here.
| JOLTS (Job Openings & Labor Turnover Survey) | Jan | Dec | Jan '04 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Openings Rate: Total | 2.4% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 2.4% | 2.1% | 2.2% |
| Hires Rate: Total | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.2% |
