Key Points:
- Job openings rose to 7.4 million in April, above consensus of 7.1 million, after March was revised up by 8,000 to 7.2 million.
- The number of job openings decreased in accommodation and food services (-135,000) and in state and local government, education (-51,000). The number of job openings increased in arts, entertainment, and recreation (+43,000) and in mining and logging (+10,000).
- The U.S. added 177,000 jobs in April but there were 7.2 million people unemployed.
- The number of job openings for March was revised up by 8,000 to 7.2 million, the number of hires was revised down by 7,000 to 5.4 million, and the number of total separations was revised up by 46,000 to 5.2 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised up by 12,000 to 3.3 million, and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised up by 32,000 to 1.6 million.
- In April, the number and rate of hires were little changed at 5.6 million.
- The number of total separations in April was little changed at 5.3 million. Total separations increased in federal government (+9,000).
- Within separations, quits (3.2 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.8 million) changed little.
- The number of quits was down by 220,000 over the year.
- Layoffs and discharges increased in health care and social assistance (+52,000) but decreased in state and local government, excluding education (-14,000) and in federal government (-4,000).
- The labor force participation rate changed little over the month at 62.6%.
- The Right Facts will continue to monitor unemployment and job openings.