JOLTS

Jolts is the plural form of jolt, defined as a sudden strong shock or a jerking motion. As a verb, to jolt means to cause to undergo a sudden shock or impact, or to surprise someone. Jolts can be physical, such as a jolt from a car hitting a pothole, an electric jolt from a short circuit, or a clinical jolt felt during a medical procedure. In everyday language, jolts can describe abrupt changes in mood or circumstance, such as a sudden jump in energy or a startling piece of news. In physics and engineering contexts, "jolt" is sometimes used informally to refer to a brief, high-acceleration event, distinct from, but related to, jerk, the rate of change of acceleration.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) is a program of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that provides monthly measures of labor market activity. It reports the number or rate of job openings, hires, and separations, and breaks separations down into quits, layoffs, discharges, and other separations. Analysts use JOLTS data to gauge labor market tightness and turnover, to assess whether job openings outpace available workers, and to complement unemployment statistics. The data are published at national and, in some cases, state or industry levels, and are subject to revisions as additional information becomes available. Limitations include reliance on sample surveys and potential coverage gaps in some sectors.