Job openings drop in March

The number of total separations increased by 8.9 million to a series high of 14.5 

million in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Within 

separations, the quits rate fell to 1.8 percent and the layoffs and discharges rate 

increased to 7.5 percent. Job openings decreased to 6.2 million on the last 
business day of March. Over the month, hires declined to 5.2 million. The changes 

in these measures reflect the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and 

efforts to contain it.