Job openings totaled 11.3 million in January

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Yahoo! Finance

Yahoo Finance

Job openings totaled 11.3 million in January

Emily McCormick · Reporter
Wed, March 9, 2022, 10:02 AM · 3 min read

U.S. job openings hovered at a historically high level in January as labor shortages and firm worker demand carrying over into the beginning of this year. ... Vacancies totaled 11.263 million in the first month of 2022, the Labor Department said in its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) on Wednesday. This compared to an upwardly revised 11.4 million openings in December, which marked a record in data going back to 2001. Consensus economists were looking for 10.950 million vacancies for January, according to Bloomberg consensus data.

By industry, some of the largest decreases in job openings were seen in accommodation and food services, where vacancies fell by 288,000 to reach just under 1.5 million. Transportation, warehousing and utilities also saw openings drop by more than 130,000. Durable goods manufacturing, however, saw job openings increase by 85,000.

Openings across the economy have totaled than 10 million for eight consecutive months, coming in well above pre-pandemic averages to highlight the strain employers across industries have found in seeking enough workers to keep pace with demand. Job openings were coming in around 7 million per month throughout 2019.

The details of the JOLTS reports have also underscored the considerable leverage many workers have been able to command in the current market. The number of quits in January edged down just slightly, or by 151,000 compared to December, to reach 4.3 million. And the quits rate decreased to 2.8%, which was still elevated but retreated from December's record high of 3%.

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Read more: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/jolts-job-openings-labor-department-january-2022-150215081.html

[jimfields33]

1. Wow! That's a lot of jobs

Hopefully some will take advantage and leave the job they hate and go somewhere they may enjoy.

[IronLionZion]

2. Millions have done that. It's the great resignation

I even know some folks who retired during COVID but then came back part time or as independent consultants because the need is there and the pay is great

[cstanleytech]

3. Would not see this had the virus not revealed the truth that to many companies

especially in the service industry were relying on low paid part time workers to fill gaps rather than full time workers.
Then once the virus hit and so many retailers let those part timers go those part timers had to get new jobs now have new jobs many of them with companies like Instacart.
Now though the companies that were offering low pay/few hours like Mcdonalds and like Walmart and Publix are trying like hell to get workers but they do not really want to offer a payscale that is truly livable.
Hell, a full timer like my brother with 20+ years of experience is capped out with Publix and its barely enough to pay his bills and as for the ability to save for retirement? Not a chance.

[IronLionZion]

5. I've seen that with IT contracting too

A lot of folks got tired of being treated badly in the temp agency style, move every few months, no reimbursement, culture of these companies and quit. Plenty of folks retired early. Lots of foreign workers had enough of America and went home or to other countries.

Now my LinkedIn and email inboxes are filled with recruiters desperate for a US citizen to do things US citizens won't do. There are tons of wonderful stories online of workers exposing abusive bosses and leaving for better jobs. I'm loving it.

[cstanleytech]

8. I think this is the start of a new type of worker revolution. Not one based on violence rather based

on telling abusive employers like McDonalds, Walmart, Publix and the rest to go fuck themselves.
Furthermore I suspect companies will continue to scramble for workers until they implement a major shake up where the workers are treated better and actually paid fairly.

[IronLionZion]

4. Thank You Brandon

[Politicub]

6. And yet, I have applied for nearly 100 jobs, and it's almost impossible to get a call back.

It is more frustrating to look for a job now than ever because I keep reading about how many openings there are, how salaries are up, etc.

It's the same old story, and one that I'm feeling more than ever. There is age discrimination, and there's also a bias toward poaching people from other companies. I have been out of work for a while for health reasons, so that's a mark against me, too. Doesn't matter that I have strong work experience. Nope.

Even if I wanted to get a job at Target (which I can't because of physical issues... I would try if not for the "lifting 40 pounds" and standing on my feet all day), I don't think I would get hired because I have too much experience doing corporate work or for reasons I can't even figure out.

My therapist says that Covid is a good excuse for a hole in my resume, but he's wrong about that. He frustrates me, too.

Job hunting is plagued by the same old biases that have always plagued it, and made even worse by automated resume review systems that can discriminate against candidates legally. And don't even get me started about articles filled with bullshit advice for job seekers.

Oh, to be young and upwardly mobile again. I keep asking myself, WTF happened? :-/

Thank you for listening.

[bikebloke]

7. I've been looking for a long time.

There isn't any difference in the number of job openings from months ago. Luckily, I was approved for full social security. Yet I'm still trying to get my pension. I think the company has stolen it.