Job openings rate 4.7 percent in Washington, DC, area in fourth quarter 2019

The national job openings rate was 4.2 percent in fourth quarter 2019. Among the 18 largest metropolitan areas, job opening rates ranged from 3.3 percent in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington, to 4.7 percent in the Washington, DC, area.

Job openings rates for all three large metro areas in the Northeast region—New York, Boston, and Philadelphia—were below the national rate.

In the South, the Atlanta area’s job openings rate was 4.4 percent. The rate was 3.9 percent in the Houston area and 3.8 percent in the Dallas area. The rate was 3.4 percent in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Florida.

In the Midwest, the job openings rate for the Chicago area was the same as the national rate (4.2 percent). The rate in the Detroit area was 4.4 percent.

In the West, job opening rates were below the national rate for all areas. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California, and Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona, had the highest rate, both at 4.0 percent.

These data are from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey and are not seasonally adjusted. To learn more about these research estimates, see our page on job openings and labor turnover in metropolitan areas. Also see more charts on national job openings, hires, and separations. The job openings rate is the number of job openings divided by the sum of job openings plus employment.