The job openings rate was little changed over the month of May at 2.4 percent. The hires rate (3.4 percent) was also little changed and the separations rate (3.1 percent) was unchanged.
Although the over-the-month change in the hires rate was not significant, the last time the hires rate was 3.4 percent was August, 2008. The rate was between 3.0 percent and 3.3 percent from September 2008 through April 2010.
The total separations, or turnover, rate for total nonfarm remained at 3.1 percent in May for the fourth consecutive month.
This data is from the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. Data for the most recent month is preliminary and subject to revision. More information can be found in "Job Openings and Labor Turnover — May 2010" (HTML) (PDF), news release USDL-10-0963.
