Thumbs Down: Job openings little changed at 3.7 million in July; up over the year

There were 3.7 million job openings on the last business day of July,
little changed from June, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported
today. The hires rate (3.2 percent) and separations rate (3.0 percent)
were also little changed in July. This release includes estimates of
the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the
nonfarm sector by industry and by geographic region.

Job Openings

The number of job openings in July was 3.7 million, little changed
from June. (See table 1.) The number of openings was little changed in
all industries except health care and social assistance, where the
number decreased. The number of openings was also little changed in
all four regions in July. The level of total nonfarm job openings in
July was up from 2.4 million at the end of the recession in June 2009.
(Recession dates are determined by the National Bureau of Economic
Research.)

The number of job openings in July (not seasonally adjusted) increased
over the year for total nonfarm, total private, and government. Job
openings increased over the year for several industries but fell in
mining and logging and arts, entertainment, and recreation. Three of
the four regions – Midwest, Northeast, and South – experienced a rise
in job openings over the year.

There were 3.7 million job openings on the last business day of July, little changed from June, but up over the last 12 months. The hires rate (3.2 percent) and separations rate (3.0 percent) were also little changed in July.
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