U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (08/07/12)
There were 3.8 million job openings on the last business day of June, little changed from 3.7 million in May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Aug. 7. The hires rate (3.3%) and separations rate (3.2%) were essentially unchanged in June.
Job openings were little changed in all industries and regions. The level of total nonfarm job openings in June was up from 2.4 million at the end of the recession in June 2009. The number of job openings in June (not seasonally adjusted) increased over the year for total nonfarm and total private. The number of job openings for government was little changed. Job openings increased over the year for several industries and the Midwest, Northeast, and South regions. The hires rate was little changed in all industries and regions. The number of hires in June was 4.4 million, up from 3.7 million at the end of the recession in June 2009. Over the 12 months ending in June 2012, hires totaled 51.3 million and separations totaled 49.6 million, yielding a net employment gain of 1.8 million.