The referee might miss an occasional handball, but a soccer game isn’t rigged in favor of one group of players over another. Unlike a soccer game, the most powerful economic actors have rigged the labor market against everyday hardworking Americans. The weak economy following the Great Recession and its aftermath came on the heels of three decades of the systematic reduction of workers bargaining power in the workplace. It’s no surprise then that this morning’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) report shows that the quits rate remains depressed as workers continue to be stuck in jobs that they would leave if they could.

The figure below shows the hires, quits, and layoff rates through May 2015. The layoff rate shot up during the recession but recovered quickly and has been at pre-recession levels for more than three years. The fact that this trend continued in May is a good sign. That said, not only do layoffs need to come down before we see a full recovery in the labor market, but hiring also needs to pick up–the hires rate dipped slightly in May, and is still below where it was at the end of 2014. It had been generally improving, but has shown concerning signs as of late and still remains significantly below its pre-recession level.

JOLTS Hires, quits, and layoff rates, December 2000-May 2015 Month Hires rate Layoffs rate Quits rate Dec-2000 4.1% 1.4% 2.3% Jan-2001 4.4% 1.6% 2.6% Feb-2001 4.1% 1.4% 2.5% Mar-2001 4.2% 1.6% 2.4% Apr-2001 4.0% 1.5% 2.4% May-2001 4.0% 1.5% 2.4% Jun-2001 3.8% 1.5% 2.3% Jul-2001 3.9% 1.5% 2.2% Aug-2001 3.8% 1.4% 2.1% Sep-2001 3.8% 1.6% 2.1% Oct-2001 3.8% 1.7% 2.2% Nov-2001 3.7% 1.6% 2.0% Dec-2001 3.7% 1.4% 2.0% Jan-2002 3.7% 1.4% 2.2% Feb-2002 3.7% 1.5% 2.0% Mar-2002 3.5% 1.4% 1.9% Apr-2002 3.8% 1.5% 2.1% May-2002 3.8% 1.5% 2.1% Jun-2002 3.7% 1.4% 2.0% Jul-2002 3.8% 1.5% 2.1% Aug-2002 3.7% 1.4% 2.0% Sep-2002 3.7% 1.4% 2.0% Oct-2002 3.7% 1.4% 2.0% Nov-2002 3.8% 1.5% 1.9% Dec-2002 3.8% 1.5% 2.0% Jan-2003 3.8% 1.5% 1.9% Feb-2003 3.6% 1.5% 1.9% Mar-2003 3.4% 1.4% 1.9% Apr-2003 3.6% 1.6% 1.8% May-2003 3.5% 1.5% 1.8% Jun-2003 3.7% 1.6% 1.8% Jul-2003 3.6% 1.6% 1.8% Aug-2003 3.6% 1.5% 1.8% Sep-2003 3.7% 1.5% 1.9% Oct-2003 3.8% 1.4% 1.9% Nov-2003 3.6% 1.4% 1.9% Dec-2003 3.8% 1.5% 1.9% Jan-2004 3.7% 1.5% 1.9% Feb-2004 3.6% 1.4% 1.9% Mar-2004 3.9% 1.4% 2.0% Apr-2004 3.9% 1.5% 2.0% May-2004 3.8% 1.4% 1.9% Jun-2004 3.8% 1.4% 2.0% Jul-2004 3.7% 1.4% 2.0% Aug-2004 3.9% 1.5% 2.0% Sep-2004 3.8% 1.4% 2.0% Oct-2004 3.9% 1.4% 2.0% Nov-2004 3.9% 1.5% 2.1% Dec-2004 4.0% 1.5% 2.1% Jan-2005 3.9% 1.4% 2.1% Feb-2005 3.9% 1.4% 2.0% Mar-2005 3.9% 1.5% 2.1% Apr-2005 4.0% 1.4% 2.1% May-2005 3.9% 1.4% 2.1% Jun-2005 3.9% 1.5% 2.1% Jul-2005 3.9% 1.4% 2.0% Aug-2005 4.0% 1.4% 2.2% Sep-2005 4.0% 1.4% 2.3% Oct-2005 3.8% 1.3% 2.2% Nov-2005 3.9% 1.2% 2.2% Dec-2005 3.7% 1.3% 2.1% Jan-2006 3.9% 1.3% 2.1% Feb-2006 3.9% 1.3% 2.2% Mar-2006 3.9% 1.2% 2.2% Apr-2006 3.8% 1.3% 2.1% May-2006 4.0% 1.4% 2.2% Jun-2006 3.9% 1.2% 2.2% Jul-2006 3.9% 1.3% 2.2% Aug-2006 3.8% 1.2% 2.2% Sep-2006 3.8% 1.3% 2.1% Oct-2006 3.8% 1.3% 2.1% Nov-2006 4.0% 1.3% 2.3% Dec-2006 3.8% 1.3% 2.2% Jan-2007 3.8% 1.2% 2.2% Feb-2007 3.8% 1.3% 2.2% Mar-2007 3.8% 1.3% 2.2% Apr-2007 3.7% 1.3% 2.1% May-2007 3.8% 1.3% 2.2% Jun-2007 3.8% 1.3% 2.0% Jul-2007 3.7% 1.3% 2.1% Aug-2007 3.7% 1.3% 2.1% Sep-2007 3.7% 1.5% 1.9% Oct-2007 3.8% 1.4% 2.1% Nov-2007 3.7% 1.4% 2.0% Dec-2007 3.6% 1.3% 2.0% Jan-2008 3.5% 1.3% 2.0% Feb-2008 3.5% 1.4% 2.0% Mar-2008 3.4% 1.3% 1.9% Apr-2008 3.5% 1.3% 2.1% May-2008 3.3% 1.3% 1.9% Jun-2008 3.5% 1.5% 1.9% Jul-2008 3.3% 1.4% 1.8% Aug-2008 3.3% 1.6% 1.7% Sep-2008 3.1% 1.4% 1.8% Oct-2008 3.3% 1.6% 1.8% Nov-2008 2.9% 1.6% 1.5% Dec-2008 3.2% 1.8% 1.6% Jan-2009 3.1% 1.9% 1.5% Feb-2009 3.0% 1.9% 1.5% Mar-2009 2.8% 1.8% 1.4% Apr-2009 2.9% 2.0% 1.3% May-2009 2.8% 1.6% 1.3% Jun-2009 2.8% 1.6% 1.3% Jul-2009 2.9% 1.7% 1.3% Aug-2009 2.9% 1.6% 1.3% Sep-2009 3.0% 1.6% 1.3% Oct-2009 2.9% 1.5% 1.3% Nov-2009 3.1% 1.4% 1.4% Dec-2009 2.9% 1.5% 1.3% Jan-2010 3.0% 1.4% 1.3% Feb-2010 2.9% 1.4% 1.3% Mar-2010 3.2% 1.4% 1.4% Apr-2010 3.1% 1.3% 1.5% May-2010 3.3% 1.3% 1.4% Jun-2010 3.1% 1.5% 1.5% Jul-2010 3.2% 1.6% 1.4% Aug-2010 3.0% 1.4% 1.4% Sep-2010 3.1% 1.4% 1.5% Oct-2010 3.1% 1.3% 1.4% Nov-2010 3.1% 1.4% 1.4% Dec-2010 3.2% 1.4% 1.5% Jan-2011 3.0% 1.3% 1.4% Feb-2011 3.1% 1.3% 1.4% Mar-2011 3.3% 1.3% 1.5% Apr-2011 3.2% 1.3% 1.5% May-2011 3.1% 1.3% 1.5% Jun-2011 3.3% 1.4% 1.5% Jul-2011 3.2% 1.3% 1.5% Aug-2011 3.2% 1.3% 1.5% Sep-2011 3.3% 1.3% 1.5% Oct-2011 3.2% 1.3% 1.5% Nov-2011 3.2% 1.3% 1.5% Dec-2011 3.2% 1.3% 1.5% Jan-2012 3.2% 1.3% 1.5% Feb-2012 3.3% 1.3% 1.6% Mar-2012 3.3% 1.3% 1.6% Apr-2012 3.2% 1.4% 1.6% May-2012 3.3% 1.4% 1.6% Jun-2012 3.2% 1.3% 1.6% Jul-2012 3.2% 1.2% 1.6% Aug-2012 3.3% 1.4% 1.6% Sep-2012 3.1% 1.3% 1.4% Oct-2012 3.2% 1.3% 1.5% Nov-2012 3.3% 1.3% 1.6% Dec-2012 3.2% 1.1% 1.6% Jan-2013 3.3% 1.2% 1.7% Feb-2013 3.4% 1.2% 1.7% Mar-2013 3.2% 1.3% 1.5% Apr-2013 3.3% 1.3% 1.7% May-2013 3.3% 1.3% 1.6% Jun-2013 3.2% 1.2% 1.6% Jul-2013 3.3% 1.2% 1.7% Aug-2013 3.4% 1.2% 1.7% Sep-2013 3.4% 1.3% 1.7% Oct-2013 3.3% 1.1% 1.8% Nov-2013 3.4% 1.1% 1.8% Dec-2013 3.3% 1.2% 1.7% Jan-2014 3.3% 1.3% 1.7% Feb-2014 3.4% 1.2% 1.8% Mar-2014 3.4% 1.2% 1.8% Apr-2014 3.5% 1.2% 1.7% May-2014 3.5% 1.2% 1.8% Jun-2014 3.5% 1.2% 1.8% Jul-2014 3.6% 1.3% 1.8% Aug-2014 3.4% 1.2% 1.8% Sep-2014 3.6% 1.2% 2.0% Oct-2014 3.7% 1.2% 2.0% Nov-2014 3.6% 1.1% 1.9% Dec-2014 3.7% 1.2% 1.9% Jan-2015 3.5% 1.2% 2.0% Feb-2015 3.6% 1.2% 1.9% Mar-2015 3.6% 1.3% 2.0% Apr-2015 3.6% 1.3% 1.9% May-2015 3.5% 1.2% 1.9% ChartData Download data The data below can be saved or copied directly into Excel. The data underlying the figure. Note: Shaded areas denote recessions. The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. The layoff rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a percent of total employment. The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey Share on Facebook Tweet this chart Embed Copy the code below to embed this chart on your website. Download image

The voluntary quits rate held steady at 1.9 percent in May, where it has sat for most of the last six months. In May, the quits rate was still 9.2 percent lower than it was in 2007, before the recession began. A larger number of people voluntarily quitting their jobs indicates a strong labor market–one in which workers are able to leave jobs that are not right for them and find new ones. Before long, we should look for a return to pre-recession levels of voluntary quits, which would mean that fewer workers are locked into jobs they would leave if they could. But, as with previous months, we are not there yet.

Evidence in today’s release corroborate last week’s jobs report, which continued to provide evidence that the economy is only at a slow jog, with meager wage growth and a falling labor force. There continues to be a significant gap between the number of job seekers and the number of job openings. The figure below illustrates the overall improvement in the economy over the last five years as the unemployment level continues to fall and job openings rise. A tighter economy (like the one shown in the initial year of data) would have these levels much closer together. It’s clear that there remains significant slack in the economy. Furthermore, on top of the 8+ million unemployed workers warming the bench, there are still about three million workers sitting in the stands with little hope to even get in the game.

JOLTS Job openings levels and unemployment levels, December 2000-May 2015 Month Job Openings level Unemployment level Dec-2000 4.934 5.634 Jan-2001 5.273 6.023 Feb-2001 4.706 6.089 Mar-2001 4.618 6.141 Apr-2001 4.668 6.271 May-2001 4.444 6.226 Jun-2001 4.232 6.484 Jul-2001 4.354 6.583 Aug-2001 4.095 7.042 Sep-2001 3.973 7.142 Oct-2001 3.594 7.694 Nov-2001 3.545 8.003 Dec-2001 3.586 8.258 Jan-2002 3.587 8.182 Feb-2002 3.412 8.215 Mar-2002 3.605 8.304 Apr-2002 3.357 8.599 May-2002 3.525 8.399 Jun-2002 3.325 8.393 Jul-2002 3.343 8.39 Aug-2002 3.462 8.304 Sep-2002 3.319 8.251 Oct-2002 3.502 8.307 Nov-2002 3.585 8.52 Dec-2002 3.074 8.64 Jan-2003 3.686 8.52 Feb-2003 3.402 8.618 Mar-2003 3.101 8.588 Apr-2003 3.182 8.842 May-2003 3.201 8.957 Jun-2003 3.356 9.266 Jul-2003 3.195 9.011 Aug-2003 3.239 8.896 Sep-2003 3.054 8.921 Oct-2003 3.196 8.732 Nov-2003 3.316 8.576 Dec-2003 3.334 8.317 Jan-2004 3.391 8.37 Feb-2004 3.437 8.167 Mar-2004 3.42 8.491 Apr-2004 3.466 8.17 May-2004 3.658 8.212 Jun-2004 3.384 8.286 Jul-2004 3.835 8.136 Aug-2004 3.578 7.99 Sep-2004 3.704 7.927 Oct-2004 3.779 8.061 Nov-2004 3.456 7.932 Dec-2004 3.846 7.934 Jan-2005 3.595 7.784 Feb-2005 3.842 7.98 Mar-2005 3.891 7.737 Apr-2005 4.115 7.672 May-2005 3.824 7.651 Jun-2005 4.018 7.524 Jul-2005 4.162 7.406 Aug-2005 4.085 7.345 Sep-2005 4.227 7.553 Oct-2005 4.23 7.453 Nov-2005 4.341 7.566 Dec-2005 4.249 7.279 Jan-2006 4.278 7.064 Feb-2006 4.308 7.184 Mar-2006 4.537 7.072 Apr-2006 4.495 7.12 May-2006 4.432 6.98 Jun-2006 4.331 7.001 Jul-2006 4.081 7.175 Aug-2006 4.411 7.091 Sep-2006 4.498 6.847 Oct-2006 4.454 6.727 Nov-2006 4.622 6.872 Dec-2006 4.552 6.762 Jan-2007 4.59 7.116 Feb-2007 4.481 6.927 Mar-2007 4.657 6.731 Apr-2007 4.534 6.85 May-2007 4.531 6.766 Jun-2007 4.639 6.979 Jul-2007 4.43 7.149 Aug-2007 4.508 7.067 Sep-2007 4.481 7.17 Oct-2007 4.278 7.237 Nov-2007 4.278 7.24 Dec-2007 4.323 7.645 Jan-2008 4.223 7.685 Feb-2008 4.039 7.497 Mar-2008 4.012 7.822 Apr-2008 3.85 7.637 May-2008 4 8.395 Jun-2008 3.67 8.575 Jul-2008 3.762 8.937 Aug-2008 3.584 9.438 Sep-2008 3.21 9.494 Oct-2008 3.273 10.074 Nov-2008 3.059 10.538 Dec-2008 3.049 11.286 Jan-2009 2.763 12.058 Feb-2009 2.794 12.898 Mar-2009 2.493 13.426 Apr-2009 2.271 13.853 May-2009 2.413 14.499 Jun-2009 2.388 14.707 Jul-2009 2.146 14.601 Aug-2009 2.294 14.814 Sep-2009 2.434 15.009 Oct-2009 2.376 15.352 Nov-2009 2.419 15.219 Dec-2009 2.49 15.098 Jan-2010 2.706 15.046 Feb-2010 2.561 15.113 Mar-2010 2.652 15.202 Apr-2010 3.097 15.325 May-2010 2.9 14.849 Jun-2010 2.728 14.474 Jul-2010 2.929 14.512 Aug-2010 2.869 14.648 Sep-2010 2.782 14.579 Oct-2010 3.026 14.516 Nov-2010 3.072 15.081 Dec-2010 2.909 14.348 Jan-2011 2.917 14.046 Feb-2011 3.065 13.828 Mar-2011 3.132 13.728 Apr-2011 3.099 13.956 May-2011 3.032 13.853 Jun-2011 3.194 13.958 Jul-2011 3.417 13.756 Aug-2011 3.138 13.806 Sep-2011 3.557 13.929 Oct-2011 3.422 13.599 Nov-2011 3.215 13.309 Dec-2011 3.527 13.071 Jan-2012 3.653 12.812 Feb-2012 3.517 12.828 Mar-2012 3.837 12.696 Apr-2012 3.627 12.636 May-2012 3.696 12.668 Jun-2012 3.785 12.688 Jul-2012 3.587 12.657 Aug-2012 3.637 12.449 Sep-2012 3.614 12.106 Oct-2012 3.729 12.141 Nov-2012 3.741 12.026 Dec-2012 3.64 12.272 Jan-2013 3.77 12.497 Feb-2013 4.023 11.967 Mar-2013 3.891 11.653 Apr-2013 3.84 11.735 May-2013 3.829 11.671 Jun-2013 3.864 11.736 Jul-2013 3.829 11.357 Aug-2013 3.893 11.241 Sep-2013 3.955 11.251 Oct-2013 4.076 11.161 Nov-2013 4.073 10.814 Dec-2013 3.977 10.376 Jan-2014 3.906 10.28 Feb-2014 4.160 10.387 Mar-2014 4.210 10.384 Apr-2014 4.417 9.696 May-2014 4.608 9.761 Jun-2014 4.710 9.453 Jul-2014 4.726 9.648 Aug-2014 4.925 9.568 Sep-2014 4.678 9.237 Oct-2014 4.849 8.983 Nov-2014 4.886 9.071 Dec-2014 4.877 8.688 Jan-2015 4.965 8.979 Feb-2015 5.144 8.705 Mar-2015 5.109 8.575 Apr-2015 5.334 8.549 May-2015 5.363 8.674 ChartData Download data The data below can be saved or copied directly into Excel. The data underlying the figure. Note: Shaded areas denote recessions. Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey and Current Population Survey Share on Facebook Tweet this chart Embed Copy the code below to embed this chart on your website. Download image

While the topline numbers indicate that there are still 16 job seekers for every 10 job openings, there are some differences in labor market activity across sectors. There appears to be a continued tightening in the healthcare and social assistance sector–not surprising given their steady employment gains. At the other end of the spectrum, we find nearly 50 unemployed construction job seekers for every 10 construction job openings, something to consider as Congress begins to debate highway funding.

A strong labor market is one in which every worker has a good chance to join in and play a fair game. As both this week’s JOLTS and last week’s jobs reports show, however, the referees are still pulling the strings to keep workers sidelined without decent paying jobs, or jobs at all, while those few at the top reap the benefits.