The number of job openings increased to 5.9 million on the last business day of July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.
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Hires and separations were little changed at 5.2 million and 4.9 million, respectively. Within separations, the quits rate was 2.1 percent and the layoffs and discharges rate was 1.1 percent.
On the last business day of July, there were 5.9 million job openings, an increase of 228,000 from June. The job openings rate was 3.9 percent in July. The number of job openings increased over the month for total private (+243,000) and was little changed for government.
Job openings increased in professional and business services (+166,000) and durable goods manufacturing (+27,000) but decreased in health care and social assistance (-63,000). The number of job openings was little changed in all four regions
The number of hires was 5.2 million in July, little changed from June. The hires rate was 3.6 percent in July. The number of hires was little changed for total private and for government.
Hires increased in professional and business services (+137,000) but decreased in other services (-77,000). The number of hires increased in the South region.
There were 4.9 million total separations in July, little changed from June. The total separations rate in July was 3.4 percent. The number of total separations was essentially unchanged for total private and edged down for government (-25,000) over the month.
Total separations decreased in state and local government education (-29,000). The number of total separations was little changed in all four regions.
The number of quits was essentially unchanged in July at 3.0 million. The quits rate was 2.1 percent.
Over the month, the number of quits was little changed for total private and decreased for government (-21,000). Quits decreased in state and local government education (-25,000). The number of quits was little changed in all four regions.
There were 1.6 million layoffs and discharges in July, little changed from June. The layoffs and discharges rate was 1.1 percent. The number of layoffs and discharges was essentially unchanged over the month for total private and for government. The layoffs and discharges level was also essentially unchanged in all industries and in all four regions.
The number of other separations was little changed for total nonfarm, total private, and government in July. Other separations decreased in other services (-12,000), educational services (-6,000), and state and local government education (-5,000).
The number of other separations was little changed over the month in all four regions. ■
Persistent cold northwest cyclonic flow over the Great Lakes region will continue to produce areas of heavy lake effect snowfall downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario going through tonight and early Wednesday.