Key Points:
- The number of available jobs since May 2021 continues to outnumber Americans looking for work.
- Job openings were little changed at 9.6 million in September, above consensus of 9.25 million.
- Over the month, job openings increased in accommodation and food services (+141,000) and in arts, entertainment, and recreation (+39,000).
- Job openings decreased in other services (-124,000), federal government (-43,000), and information (-41,000).
- The U.S. added 336,000 jobs in September and there were 6.4 million people unemployed.
- In September, the number of hires changed little at 5.9 million, and the rate was 3.7% for the third month in a row. The number of hires changed little in all industries.
- The number and rate of total separations in September changed little at 5.5 million.
- Within separations, quits (3.7 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.5 million) changed little.
- the number of total separations decreased in state and local government education (-42,000) and in nondurable goods manufacturing (-37,000) but increased in federal government (+8,000).
- The labor force participation rate was little changed at 62.8% in September and is 0.5% below its February 2020 level.
- The Right Facts will continue to monitor unemployment and job openings.