Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey News Release — 2009-05-12

On the last business day of March, job openings in the U.S. numbered 2.7 million, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The job openings level and rate (2.0 percent) were at their lowest points since the series began over 8 years ago. The hires rate (3.1 percent) was little changed in March and remained low. The total separations rate (3.6 percent) was unchanged in March. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region. Job Openings The job openings rate fell in March to a series low of 2.0 percent. The number of job openings has trended downward since mid- 2007, and, at 2.7 million in March, monthly openings were down 2.1 million, or 44 percent, since the most recent high point in June 2007.