US job openings rise more quickly than expected in July, JOLTS survey shows

Hiring in the US slowed in July but, in a welcome development, the number of job openings picked up, the results of a closely-followed survey revealed.

According to the US Department of Labor's JOLTS survey, the seasonally adjusted pace of job openings increased from 6.0m in June to 6.62m for July (consensus: 6.0m).

Nevertheless, in July 2019 job openings had been running at approximately 7.24m.

The pace of hires on the other hand fell from 6.97m for June to 5.79m in July, which was only a bit under the 5.98m recorded one year before.

So-called total separations meanwhile printed at 5.01m, against 4.9m for the month before and 5.77m for the year earlier month.