Washington, DC–The number of job openings rose to 7.5 million on the last business day of March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires and separations were little changed at 5.7 million and 5.4 million, respectively.
Within separations, the quits rate was unchanged at 2.3 percent and the layoffs and discharges rate was little changed at 1.1 percent.
On the last business day of March, the job openings rate was 4.7 percent. The number of job openings increased for total private (+363,000) and was little changed for government.
Job openings increased in a number of industries, with the largest increases in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+87,000), construction (+73,000), and real estate and rental and leasing (+57,000). Job openings decreased in federal government (-15,000).
The number of hires was little changed at 5.7 million in March. The hires rate was 3.8 percent. The hires level was little changed for total private and for government.
Total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. The number of total separations was little changed at 5.4 million in March. The total separations rate was 3.6 percent.
The number of quits was little changed in March at 3.4 million. The quits rate was 2.3 percent. The quits level was little changed for total private and for government. Quits increased in real estate and rental and leasing (+15,000) but decreased in construction (-38,000).
The number of layoffs and discharges was little changed in March at 1.7 million. The layoffs and discharges rate was 1.1 percent.
The number of other separations was little changed in March. The other separations level was little changed for total private and for government. Other separations increased in construction (+11,000).
