In the U.S., job openings remain near record levels this year as labour demand firms in an economy growing well-above potential.
Figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Tuesday morning show the job openings rate, at 4.3%, sits just 0.1 percentage point below its historical high in June. In May, the quits rate was up 0.1 pp to 2.4%, the highest since April 2001, as workers feel confident enough to leave their current employer for other opportunities in a strong labour market.
Within separations, June's quits rate was unchanged at 2.3% and the layoffs and discharges rate was little changed at 1.2%. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the non-farm sector by industry and by four geographic regions.
BLS also says on the last business day of June, the job openings level was little changed at 6.7 million. The number of job openings was little changed for total private and for government. Job openings increased in educational services (+20,000) but decreased in transportation,
warehousing, and utilities (-84,000). The number of job openings was little changed in all four regions.
