Using JOLTS to Predict Labor Market Turning Points
JOLTS data has historically given early warning of labor market downturns. Here is how economists use it for forecasting.
Wages, employment, inflation, job openings, workplace injuries, H-1B filings, unemployment claims, and county-level data — all sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Department of Labor. Updated continuously as BLS and DOL release new data.
CPI (All Items)
330.2
+2.22% YoY
Mar 2026
Initial UI Claims
214,377
All states, latest week
Job Openings
701,000K
Feb 2026 (JOLTS)
Datasets
10
BLS + DOL sources
| Occupation | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $236,000 |
| Prosthodontists | $234,000 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | $227,690 |
| Psychiatrists | $226,880 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $224,640 |
SOC occupation wage profiles from BLS OEWS — median wages, percentile distributions, employment totals.
NAICS industry employment trends, job openings, injury rates, and producer price data.
DOL LCA/H-1B employer wage disclosures — what companies certify to pay foreign workers.
BLS Consumer Price Index time series — headline CPI, core inflation, category breakdowns.
BLS JOLTS data — job openings, hires, quits, and layoffs by industry.
DOL weekly initial and continued claims by state — a leading economic indicator.
JOLTS data has historically given early warning of labor market downturns. Here is how economists use it for forecasting.
As remote work has grown, the traditional relationship between geography and wages has become more complex. OEWS area data sheds light on whether remote workers are still paid by location.
BLS produces detailed data on earnings by gender, race, and ethnicity. The headline gaps reflect multiple factors — here is how to interpret them.