About the JOLTS survey

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) program produces monthly data on job openings, new hires, new quits and layoffs and other kinds of labor market turnover. The number of job openings is used as an indication of the health of the employment sector. A rising figure usually indicates a growing economy, normally understood as dollar positive. Lower demand and higher layoffs, on the other hand, signal contracting growth. The report has a limited impact on financial markets as it is released with a two-month delay, and there is other information providing a more accurate picture of the employment situation in the country.