Here's What Happened to U.S. Job Openings in April

There were roughly 3.75 million job openings on the last business day in April, down slightly from March’s 3.9 million, the Labor Department announced Tuesday.

The slight difference in job openings in April was felt in all U.S. industries and regions.

Still, job openings "increased over the year for several industries and state and local government," the report notes. But job openings "decreased over the year for information; arts, entertainment, and recreation; and federal government."

The hiring rate in April remained steady at about 3.3 percent, according to official figures. The hiring rate was about the same for all industries and regions.

“Over the 12 months ending in April, the hires rate (not seasonally adjusted) was little changed for total nonfarm, total private, and government,” the report adds.

The total number of people leaving their jobs (i.e. the “quits” rate) remained nearly unchanged at 1.7 percent, up in the private sector but fixed in the public sector.

“The number of quits (not seasonally adjusted) was up over the 12 months ending in April for total nonfarm and total private but was little changed for government,” it adds. “The quits level increased for professional and business services and for the Midwest and South.”

Meanwhile, the layoffs and discharges rate in April was 1.2 percent, pretty much the same as it was in March. The rate was unchanged for both the private and public sectors.

“Over the year, the number of layoffs and discharges fell in other services and rose in federal government,” the report notes.

“In April, there were 375,000 other separations for total nonfarm, little changed from the previous month. The number of other separations for total private and government was little changed.

“Over the 12 months ending in April, the number of other separations rose for total nonfarm and total private and was little changed for government,” the report adds.

During the 12-month period ending April 2013, hires totaled approximately 52.0 million and separations were roughly 50.2 million. That’s a net employment gain of 1.8 million.

“These figures include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year,” the report concludes.

BOTTOM LINE: As far as openings, hires, and separations are concerned, April was the same as March. Little to no change.

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