Job Openings - Nonfarm
Returns total nonfarm job openings (unfilled positions) in thousands from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).
Data Details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Source | Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) JOLTS / FRED |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Unit | Thousands of openings |
| Coverage | Total nonfarm |
Notes
- Key indicator of labor demand and market tightness
- Part of the JOLTS report along with hires and separations
- High openings relative to unemployment suggests a tight labor market
Examples
=JobOpenings()=JobOpenings()*1000=JobOpenings()/Hires()=JobOpenings()/EmployeesNonfarm()*100When to Use
- Analyzing labor market tightness
- Tracking labor demand trends
- Economic forecasting
- Wage pressure analysis
When NOT to Use
| Scenario | Use Instead |
|---|---|
| Need hiring data | Hires() |
| Need layoffs data | LayoffsDischarges() |
| Need unemployment claims | InitialCliams() |
| Need total employment | EmployeesNonfarm() |
Common Issues & FAQ
Q: What unit is the result in? A: Thousands of job openings.
Q: What is JOLTS? A: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, a monthly BLS survey.
Q: How is this different from hiring data? A: Job openings are unfilled positions; hires are people actually brought on board.
