U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (07/09/13)

On the last business day of May, 3.8 million jobs were open, little changed from April. There were 4.4 million hires in May, at a 3.3% hire rate. The number of hires was little changed over the last 12 months. There were 4.3 million total separations in May, at a 3.2% separation rate, little changed from April. Separations include quits, layoffs, discharges, and other separations.

The quit rate was 1.6% for total nonfarm and 1.8% for total private; the layoffs and discharge rate was 1.3%. Hires have totaled 51.9 million and separations have totaled 50.1 million over the 12 months ending in May, resulting in a net employment gain of 1.8 million.