The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary and Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment reports this week, showing relatively little change in national job openings, hiring and separations in July.
Job openings were little changed at 7.3 million, with a rate of 4.4%. Openings increased by 76,000 in durable goods manufacturing. Hires were also little changed at 5.1 million, or 3.2%, while professional and business services recorded 188,000 fewer hires.
Total separations were little changed at 5.1 million, or 3.2%. Quits remained at 3.1 million, or 1.9%, while layoffs and discharges were little changed at 1.7 million, or 1%. Other separations were essentially unchanged at 350,000.
BLS revised June job openings down by 177,000 to 7.2 million. Hires were revised down by 16,000 to 5.3 million, while total separations were revised down by 14,000 to 5.3 million.
Meanwhile, unemployment rates were lower in July than a year earlier in 241 of 387 metropolitan areas, higher in 128 and unchanged in 18. The national unemployment rate was 4.4%, not seasonally adjusted and roughly the same as a year earlier.
Bismarck, North Dakota; Rapid City, South Dakota; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota-Minnesota, had the lowest unemployment rates at 1.9% each. El Centro, California, had the highest at 19.7%, followed by Yuma, Arizona, at 18.9%.
Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 19 metropolitan areas, decreased in four and was essentially unchanged in 364. The largest employment gains occurred in New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York-New Jersey (+96,000); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (+54,000); and Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, Texas (+50,300).
The largest percentage gains occurred in Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (+4.2%); Baton Rouge, Louisiana (+3.7%); and Athens-Clarke County, Georgia (+3.6%).
Employment decreased in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-Virginia-Maryland-West Virginia (-73,200, or -2.2%); Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Oregon-Washington (-17,800, or -1.4%); Atlantic City-Hammonton, New Jersey (-7,800, or -4.1%); and Flagstaff, Arizona (-2,800, or -3.9%).