Monthly job openings — a gauge of the U.S. economy closely watched by officials of the Federal Reserve — increased in July
Figures released by the the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Wednesday showed employers posted 5.9 million job openings in July, a rate of 3.9%. The U.S. Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) report compares to 5.62 million job openings in June.
The report also said private sector, particularly professional and business services, had more job openings in July
The monthly report from the U.S Labor Department — often cited by Fed Chair Janet Yellen -- is a key barometer of economic conditions, measuring job postings in different sectors, and the number of hires and layoffs.
JOLTS also reported the hiring rate was steady at 3.6%, or 5.2 million in July. The separation rate was also little changed in July at 4.9 million — a rate of 3.4%.
About the same number of Americans — three million, or a rate of 2.1% — quit their jobs in July, as was reported in June.
