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Was This It For America's "Hiring Spree"?

Tyler Durden's picture




 

On the surface today's JOLTS report was good: in fact, for some it was great because the one item that everyone automatically looks for, the number of job openings rose once more, surging to 5.133 million in February (recall that JOLTS is one month behind the most recent NFP report). This was the highest since January 2001.

Looking at the internals, something Janet Yellen is sure to do as the JOLTS is supposedly her favorite labor market indicator, however showed some other aspects of a job market that were hardly encouraging.

First, unlike in previous years, the BLS has managed to coordinate the two data sets - the payrolls and the net turnover (hires less separations) - into a coherent picture. This is what the latest data looks like when reconciling the NFP report and the JOLTs: again, it looks largely as it should.

 

As a reminder, it was Zero Hedge who back in September 2013 caught the BLS fabricating either NFP or JOLTS data, when the drift between the two data series soared to a record cumulative 200K, and which the BLS had no choice but to "fix" with a major data revision.

The divergence in the two data series, historically convergent, was seen highlighted on the chart below:

 

We are happy that the BLS has remembered to keep track of these two goalseeked series as repeat embarrassments would not look good for the agency which even the Fed says has lost credibility.

Which brings us to the most important data point of all: hires. As the following chart shows, whereas in the past the total number of hires tracked the cumulative 12 month change in jobs tick for tick, this time is has failed to do so, and as the chart below shows, the hires rate - a leading indicator - has dropped sharply, and at 4.916MM was not only the lowest since August...

 

... but also represents the biggest two-month drop since Lehman!

 

Again, keep in mind this is part of that whopping February jobs report which came in far stronger than expected. We already know the March jobs data was abysmal, so one can be sure that Hires in March continued the downward trajectory and the worst trend since Lehman will be confirmed in one month's time.

And the second part of today's JOLTS bad news: the number of separations tumbled to 4.650MM, down from 4.834MM last month, and back to November 2014 levels. And while discharges dropped to 1.591MM, in line with November, it was the drop in Quits that will be troubling, as this is the one indicator which all those who had promised a surge in wages is imminent. After all, one quits a job if one has something better in store. Well, the number of Quits also dropped to the lowest since November, suggesting that the opportunities for well-paying jobs in America's job market just dropped.

In short: while one can kiss any hopes for a wage rebound in the coming year goodbye, it is the plunge in the hires that is the biggest flashing red light in today's JOLTS data.... and, paradoxically, may well be the catalyst of today's stock ramp, because as even the shoeshine boy knows, the worse the news for the economy, the better it is for stocks.

 

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Tue, 04/07/2015 - 11:54 | 5966810 Hohum
Hohum's picture

Since Lehman?  Sell!!!

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:31 | 5966907 NoVa
NoVa's picture

Since Lehman TM  

fixed it 

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 13:18 | 5967062 boogerbently
boogerbently's picture

Hiring spree?

Avg 300,000 per week fired.

Every week since 2009.

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 13:42 | 5967180 Ham-bone
Ham-bone's picture

Alright...following linked article attempts to show the real, unadjusted jobs data about who's got the jobs and asks the question how an economy that needs ever fewer workers can have ever more consumers?

http://econimica.blogspot.com/

Glad to hear your thoughts.

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 14:11 | 5967296 Hohum
Hohum's picture

Wow, that means over 93M have been fired/laid off!  (Some have the misfortune of being in the queue multiple times, I know.)

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 11:55 | 5966812 Hippocratic Oaf
Hippocratic Oaf's picture

Apply at the gubmint. After all, they're only here to help.

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:29 | 5966900 KnuckleDragger-X
KnuckleDragger-X's picture

Do you meet the sociopathy requirements?

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:44 | 5966960 847328_3527
847328_3527's picture
Colorado-based retailer files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

 

Fresh Produce Sportswear LLC, a women's clothing retailer based in Boulder, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the face of what its founder called "significant and material financial challenges."

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2015/04/06/colorado-based-retaile...

 

"We restructured some folks."

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 11:55 | 5966813 Glass Seagull
Tue, 04/07/2015 - 11:56 | 5966815 pods
pods's picture

Could be worse, we could all be dead from Ebola?

pods

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:49 | 5966975 froze25
froze25's picture

Ebola, how retro.

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 11:57 | 5966816 adr
adr's picture

Every chart posted comign from any corporation or government entity since 2009 has been complete bullshit. Here is the only real chart representing the economy:

 

____________________________________________________

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:10 | 5966848 Hohum
Hohum's picture

Do I detect a deceleration at the end?

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:32 | 5966912 taketheredpill
taketheredpill's picture

 

 

_________________________________   (._.)

 

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:31 | 5966909 KnuckleDragger-X
KnuckleDragger-X's picture

Of course it's bullshit, the truth would leave them hanging from lamp posts or meeting their new room-mate, Bubba.....

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:07 | 5966840 p00k1e
p00k1e's picture

Detroit is hiring.  Another new stadium with all the fix’ins is getting built soon. 

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:08 | 5966843 JMT
JMT's picture

The 'JOLTS' hire numbers are still trending steeply upward and job openings are at a 14 year high. As I said & many will agree (but may not be PC), if you have a college degree, are white or Asian and between the ages of 23-35 the job market is as good or better than in the late 1990s

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:09 | 5966846 NoVa
NoVa's picture

Is that you Million Dollar Bonus - ?

 

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:12 | 5966855 pods
pods's picture

What if I'm white, have a college degree, and like Asians between 23-35 who put out like it was the late 1990's?

pods

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:33 | 5966917 NoVa
NoVa's picture

you mean like Tiki Tiki Washy Washy?

1990's South Jersey was notorious for Tiki Tiki Washy Washy massage spa parlors.

 

NoVa

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:14 | 5966859 jamochavez
jamochavez's picture

How so. Are you in the age range. Why are so few jobs coming from that age bracket. What's better than the late 90's. Starting pay ease of getting a job. So I assume you are 35 and just got a new job since you are able to compare it to the late 90's?

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:32 | 5966911 Never One Roach
Never One Roach's picture
Noble Energy to cut jobs in U.S., Colorado in 'organizational realignment'

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/earth_to_power/2015/04/noble-ener...

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 15:49 | 5967661 Falling Down
Falling Down's picture

Bullshit, and you know it.

Almost every Millenial I've come across in the last 3 or so years is reeling from student loan debt, and a shitty economy. Just about every one of them are working a soul-sucking McJob, plus doing side work or working a 2nd or third job. Very few I've met have solid, full-time jobs, in fact they're most likely jobs which will evaporate when the bubble(s) bursts.

 

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:12 | 5966857 q99x2
q99x2's picture

Happy now. Got robot to work. Not many robot fixers needed.

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:21 | 5966880 Dan The Man
Dan The Man's picture

Robot/3D Printer Repair...growth industry

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:29 | 5966899 taketheredpill
taketheredpill's picture

They will quickly figure out how to get the robots to fix the robots and build new robots...mighta been a movie about this...robots try to destroy the human race and one of them eventually becomes Governor of California.

 

 

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:36 | 5966930 RealistDuJour
RealistDuJour's picture

Good Lord!  Biggest 2 data points out of 84!  Run for the hills, we suddenly have a Zero TrendTM!!

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 13:34 | 5967155 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

Do robots burn?

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 13:40 | 5967179 Laddie
Laddie's picture

Well then WHY is .gov importing millions upon millions of immigrants each year? I think we know why...

IT worker replaced by foreign labor regrets voting for Obama

Several information-technology workers provided anonymous testimony for today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the immigration reforms needed to protect skilled workers. One former IT worker at multi-billion dollar utilities provider Southern California Edison, who chose to remain anonymous because of a non-disparagement agreement he signed with his former employer, wrote that he was recently replaced by a foreign worker with an H-1B visa. He is one of more than 400 people at Southern California Edison (SCE) who have reportedly lost their jobs to foreign workers in India.

“I’ve paid my taxes, obeyed the laws and have been a good citizen supporting the community with donations,” the former SCE worker wrote. “I voted for President Obama and was appalled that he implemented a rule change, which allows work permits to H-1B spouses. My future votes will only go to candidates that support reforms to the H-1B visa program that preserve the American worker.”

Laid-off worker pleads with Senate panel to stem tide of cheap labor

American tech employees forced to train H-1B replacements

the third employee interviewed said it did not appear that the company was interested in keeping any of the IT workers targeted for layoffs, and they weren't being offered the chance to apply for other jobs. "They just want to get rid of us and clean house," said this IT worker, who now worries about keeping her home.

California imports foreign guest workers to process unemployment claims
A U.S. visa allows people to come to the country for high-tech jobs. Feb. 24, 2015 News10/KXTV

http://washtech.org/news/industry/display.php?ID_Content=5363

Another tech-worker, Diane Drozdowski, was forced out of her job at American Express in Phoenix, AZ. After her manager used "bully tactics and psychological warfare" to try to get her to quit, resulting in a mental breakdown, she was replaced by two Indian workers based in India. American Express flew these Indian workers to Phoenix and forced her to train them, upon threat of losing her severance pay.

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 13:43 | 5967186 JRobby
JRobby's picture

YES

QE IV in 3, 2, 1.........

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 14:06 | 5967263 combatsnoopy
combatsnoopy's picture

The "compassionates" in the government just use unemployment numbers to manipulate excuses to cut interest rates.  The boomer trash cares nothing about job reports since their "retirement income" comes from house flipping and the equity line to buy that oversized truck they can't afford to fuel.  And the boomers are the voting majority so everything is all about them and their stupid agendas.  Which is to be threatened of new money which is why their elected junkies even passed Deregulation unscathed. 

I wonder how the CEO's are even allowed to keep making 300 times the average workers' pay... if not more (esp since jobs get outsourced).

 

Tue, 04/07/2015 - 16:17 | 5967766 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

"Scotty, we neeeeeed more bartenders."

"I'm fudging the number all I can Captain."

The banksters need to repay us.

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