Policy
What Work Does Generative AI Do?
Essays SEP 8, 2026
By: Alexander Bick, Adam Blandin, David Deming, Tyler Schumacher
AI, Tech & Energy
Labor, Wages & Worker Power
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Blog
JUL 7, 2020
JOLTS Day Graphs: May 2020 Report Edition
By: Kate Bahn and Carmen Sanchez Cumming
Abstract
Every month the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases data on hiring, firing, and other labor market flows from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, better known as JOLTS. Today, the BLS released the latest data for May 2020. This report doesn’t get as much attention as the monthly Employment Situation Report, but it contains useful information about the state of the U.S. labor market. Below are a few key graphs using data from the report.
The quit rate rebounded slightly to 1.6% in May, but remains far below its high of 2.3% in February.
Quits as a percent of total U.S. employment, 2001–2020
As state economies began re-opening, the vacancy yield increased, reflecting a series of 6.5 million new hires in May.
U.S. total nonfarm hires per total nonfarm job openings, 2000–2020
Despite an increase in job openings and a decrease in unemployment, there were still nearly four unemployed workers for every job opening in May.
The Beveridge Curve moved slightly back toward normal cyclical territory in May, as the job opening rate changed little and the unemployment rate decreased more significantly.
The relationship between the U.S. unemployment rate and the job opening rate, 2001–2020
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Academic
What Work Does Generative AI Do?
Working Papers SEP 8, 2026
By: Alexander Bick, Adam Blandin, David Deming, Tyler Schumacher
AI, Tech & Energy
Labor, Wages & Worker Power
Policy
What happens to U.S. workers without access to Unemployment Insurance amid economic downturns or disruptions related to AI?
Essays SEP 2, 2026
By: Megan Rivera
AI, Tech & Energy
Economic Equity & Opportunity
Labor, Wages & Worker Power
Macroeconomics & Economic Measurement
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