Job openings in November

January 13, 2005

On the last business day of November 2004, there were 3.2 million job openings in the United States, and the national job openings rate was 2.4 percent.

[Chart data—TXT]

Between October and November, the job openings rate was down in the Northeast and South regions, while there was little or no change in the West and Midwest.

From June through November 2004, the Northeast and Midwest both had a job openings rate that was below the national rate; the South and West have generally been above the national average.

A job opening requires that: 1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that position, 2) work could start within 30 days, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside the establishment to fill the position. The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying that quotient by 100.

These data are from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. Data for November 2004 are preliminary and subject to revision. To learn more, see "Job Openings and Labor Turnover: November 2004" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 05-055.