Why are there different reference periods for the counts?
The reference period for employment is the government standard for collecting employment information from businesses. Job openings is a measure of the “stock” of vacancies. The one-day reference for job openings gives a snapshot of the need for employees in different parts of the economy and allows the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to monitor change over time. Hires and separations are a measure of flows of people into and out of the job market over an entire month. Research has found that respondents’ record keeping most often correspond to or can accommodate these reference periods.
