The Labor Leverage Ratio, a Measure of Wage Bargaining Power, Is in Retreat

The Labor Leverage Ratio (LLR) is the number of quits divided by the number of discharges, firings, and layoffs initiated by employers.

Data from the BLS, the Labor Leverage Ratio (LLR) is defined as Quits / (Layoffs + Discharges)

The BLS comments “the quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs.”

The LLR is a refinement to the quits rate.

There is almost no difference between the Private LLR and Nonfarm LLR as the chart shows. Nonfarm includes military and pubic service workers in nonfarm occupations.

Labor Leverage Ratio Nonfarm and Private

This data series only dates to December of 2000.

LLR drops in recessions. Few workers want to quit in search of greener pastures.

Labor Leverage Ratios Select Services and Months

For more on the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary JOLTS report please see Job Openings and Quits are in a Steep Plunge. The Fed Will Be Pleased.

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Stuki Moi
Stuki Moi
8 months ago

“The Labor Leverage Ratio (LLR) is the number of quits divided by the number of discharges, firings, and layoffs initiated by employers.”

“The BLS comments “the quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs.”

The LLR is a refinement to the quits rate.”

After all: Abandoning the Titanic for the North Atlantic, sure was a sign of how much “leverage” those crewmembers had…..

You can’t make this level of utter stupidity up……. The cluelessness is genuinely beyond imagination….

JeffD
JeffD
8 months ago

There are still 1.5 job openings per unemployed person. Wages will continue to increase. Furthermore, housing costs continue to climb for the majority of workers, and the money to pay for that will only come from wages.

jake the snake
jake the snake
8 months ago

sounds a lot like trickle down economics , and we know how that worked. less debt and more productivity is the answer I think but they will spend, spend ,spend.

Doug78t
Doug78t
8 months ago

This is where “quiet quitting” turns into “I better not lose this job”. Seriously, the only way for labor to reacquire the advantage is to make it scarce and hence valuable. Demographically we are in the opposite of what the Boomers experienced where labor was abundant and consequently there was continual pressure on wages leading to decades of wage stagnation. With the natality bust we are looking at a future where labor is scarce and it should be in a better bargaining position vis a vis capital. Massive immigration could nullify it but if history is our guide then draconian immigration restrictions is in the works.

Lisa_Hooker
Lisa_Hooker
8 months ago
Reply to  Doug78t

The trade off has always been between food and shelter (labor) and debt payments (capital).

Doug78t
Doug78t
8 months ago
Reply to  Lisa_Hooker

The eternal triangle.

Micheal Engel
8 months ago

1) The lowest LLR is in construction. Construction 3y average is also the smallest.
2) Demand for carpenters, roofers, electricians…will rise in FL, GA, and SC.
3) Dalia spins counter clock. After Dalia bitchs around FL, GA, SC it might rollover to the east coast to create more havoc for the Insurance co.
4) LLR breached 2018 high @2.11.
5) LLR Lazer is coming from 2010 to 2017 lows, Once LLR crosses the Lazer it might
test 2020 low.
6) Demand for blue collar workers is rising. Demand for UAW workers will rise after
the flood.

KidHorn
KidHorn
8 months ago
Reply to  Micheal Engel

Idalia is hitting areas with little development. Once it hits the more developed east coast, it will be a lot weaker. The increased demand for construction will be a lot lower than for other recent hurricanes.

TexasTim65
TexasTim65
8 months ago

If this is accurate and the trend continues it would indicate that wage inflation is going to decline which would at least temporarily slow the wage inflation spiral that’s been going on especially in services.

It will be interesting to see how long this pattern continues.

MPO45v2
MPO45v2
8 months ago
Reply to  TexasTim65

This is exactly what I expected. Inflation will come “down” temporarily or “transitory” and then it will spike back up. It is following the late 70s early 80s inflation paradigm to a T. God help us all if the Fed decides to cut because that will unleash pent up demand for housing and cause a higher wave of inflation.

A combination of retirements, de-globalization, supply chain disruptions, trade wars and overall ego-political instability will rear its ugly head in 2025 and maybe late 2024.

Solon
Solon
8 months ago
Reply to  MPO45v2

The late 70s paradigm began in 1965 and this is nothing like it. This looks like 2007. Or post-war 1940s.

MPO45v2
MPO45v2
8 months ago
Reply to  Solon

There are far more parallels to the 70s now. Back then baby boomers were aging into family formation age. Right now Millenials and Zoomers are in family formation age, this is what is driving housing demand and housing prices.

When people buy houses they spend money filling it up with crap. I would say this period is worse than the 80s because we now have 50 million boomers that won’t be working but collecting social security and medicare and on top of that we have 70 million millenaials/zoomers trying to buy houses. There is “double” demand with 1/4 less labor over the next decade.

If you’re not pooping your pants now with how bad things are going to get, you will be soon enough in a few years and you cant think back to this post and wonder why how I knew and what I did to get ahead of it but it’ll be too late for everyone else by then. The early bird gets the worm.

Zardoz
Zardoz
8 months ago
Reply to  MPO45v2

A lot of them have figured out they can’t afford any of that, so household formation will be dependent on the stupid and the wealthy.

Lisa_Hooker
Lisa_Hooker
8 months ago
Reply to  MPO45v2

Long TP and porta-potties.

Roadrunner12
Roadrunner12
8 months ago
Reply to  MPO45v2

If you’re not pooping your pants now with how bad things are going to get, you will be soon enough in a few years and you cant think back to this post and wonder why how I knew and what I did to get ahead of it but it’ll be too late for everyone else by then.

Realist (Papafraud, mpo, imgreenscam, jeffgreenscam) buyhighselllo

Did any poop can come out your pants after you really got it up the poop scoop with your investment in Plug Power. Hopefully no one else got it up the poop scoop either by listening to your advice to buy Plug Power, Ballard Power at the highs a few years ago. Im really curious as to wonder why and how you knew and what you did to get ahead and buy at the high to get ahead of it before everybody else.

link to linkedin.com

Scott
Scott
8 months ago

You sound almost a little sad that for the first time in 50 years, due to demographics (dropping numbers of 65 and 16 year olds for the next 15 years), labor is actually in a position to get something rather than almost nothing. Minimum wages blown away. Retirement plans. Pensions? People getting health insurance the normal way vs. people getting much more expensive health care thru emergency rooms and Medicaid.

John j King
8 months ago
Reply to  Scott

More doom & gloom, however this is today’s ADP report:
link to calculatedriskblog.com

Zardoz
Zardoz
8 months ago
Reply to  Scott

The proles must be kept down. The Land of Opportunity is only for those born rich.

War Party Serf
War Party Serf
8 months ago
Reply to  Zardoz

Our government isn’t known as “The War Party Of The Rich” for nothing …..

Zardoz
Zardoz
8 months ago
Reply to  War Party Serf

Has there ever been a government of the poor?

KidHorn
KidHorn
8 months ago
Reply to  Scott

The only way to increase wealth is through productivity gains. Simply paying more because of supply/demand imbalances is a mirage. Companies pay more, but then they have to raise prices commensurably, so people end up with salaries that buy the same amount of stuff as before.

Zardoz
Zardoz
8 months ago
Reply to  KidHorn

This isn’t about how much wealth there is. It’s about who gets to keep it.

Scott
Scott
8 months ago
Reply to  KidHorn

There have been productivity gains since 1980. What DIDNT happen was an increase in workers wages, which have been flat after inflation since 1980 (40 years!) It would be nice to screw over the rich finally and get some of those lost wages.

KidHorn
KidHorn
8 months ago
Reply to  Scott

yea and we’ve become wealthier. We live far better than we did in 1980.

Lisa_Hooker
Lisa_Hooker
8 months ago
Reply to  KidHorn

It’s ok if my union gets more money first. /s

John j King
8 months ago
Reply to  Lisa_Hooker

So when Wrong-Way-Joe shut off a large fraction of the supply of oil and its distribution, the mirage kicked in and the effect has now stabilized itself? LOL.

Zhirayr Nersessian
Zhirayr Nersessian
8 months ago
Reply to  Scott

Most voted for it

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