Labor Market Guides
Educational resources on BLS JOLTS data, job openings, hires, separations, quits, layoffs, and how to interpret labor market signals across states and industries.
All guides reference Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data covering 51 states and 28 industries.
Understanding JOLTS Data, What BLS Measures and Why It Matters
How the Bureau of Labor Statistics collects the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, what each metric measures, and what JOLTS reveals about labor market health.
Job Openings vs. Hires, Why They Tell Different Stories
Why job openings and hires diverge, what a high openings-to-hires ratio signals about labor market tightness, and how to interpret the gap across industries.
Reading Labor Market Indicators, Quits, Layoffs, and JOLTS Context
How the quits rate signals worker confidence, what layoff trends reveal, how JOLTS complements the monthly jobs report, and where state-level patterns emerge.
The Great Resignation by the Numbers, JOLTS Data on the 2021–2023 Quits Wave
Data-driven analysis of the 2021–2023 Great Resignation. Quit rates before, during, and after the wave, which industries saw the biggest exodus, and what the numbers show today.
Which Industries Are Hiring Fastest, JOLTS Hire Rate Rankings by Sector
Industry rankings by hire rate from BLS JOLTS data. Which sectors are adding workers fastest, which have the most structural churn, and what hire rates reveal about where to look for a job.
Methodology
Our guides are based on publicly available data from authoritative government sources. All statistics, ratings, and figures cited in these guides are drawn directly from official datasets and publications, with sources clearly referenced throughout.
We aim to present complex government data in plain language that is accessible to general audiences. When methodologies differ between data sources or change over time, we note these variations inline. Our editorial process includes regular reviews to ensure accuracy and timeliness of the information presented.