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The number of job openings in the U.S. changed little at 9.6 million in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday.
The number of hires and total separations changed little at 5.9 million and 5.5 million, respectively, the BLS said.
Within separations, quits (3.7 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.5 million) changed little, according to the press release. It includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by industry, and by establishment size class.
“On the last business day of September, the number of job openings changed little at 9.6 million, and the rate was unchanged at 5.7 percent. Over the month, job openings increased in accommodation and food services (+141,000) and in arts, entertainment, and recreation (+39,000). Job openings decreased in other services (-124,000), the federal government (-43,000), and information (-41,000),” the statement said.
In September, the number of hires changed little at 5.9 million, and the rate was 3.7 percent for the third month in a row. The number of hires changed little in all industries.
Total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations, according to the statement. “Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the employee. The quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs. Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer. Other separations include separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.”
The number and rate of total separations in September changed little at 5.5 million and 3.5 percent, respectively. Over the month, the number of total separations decreased in state and local government education (-42,000) and in nondurable goods manufacturing (-37,000) but increased in federal government (+8,000).
Read the full statement here.