The number of U.S. manufacturing job openings shrank by 100,000 in June compared to the month prior, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
According to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) released on Tuesday, there were 486,000 seasonally adjusted job openings in manufacturing in June, compared to 586,000 in May. This means the job opening rate in manufacturing fell from 4.3% in May to 3.6% in June, one of the most significant changes of any industry.
However, across all industries the number of open jobs was little changed at 8.2 million, and the job opening rate held steady at 4.9% for both May and June. Job openings increased in accommodation and food services (+120,000) and in state and local government, excluding education (+94,000).
The number of job openings decreased most in durable goods manufacturing (-88,000), private education and health services (-86,000), and in the federal government (-62,000).
The number of hires across all industries changed little at 5.3 million in June but was down by 554,000 over the past 12 months. The all-industries hires rate was 3.4% in June, down from 3.6% in May. In manufacturing, the hires rate held steady at 2.7% for May and June.
Total separations, which include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations (such as retirement and death), also declined slightly in June to 3.2%, down from 3.4% in May. This measure was down by 544,000 over the past 12 months.
In June, the number of quits was little changed at 3.3 million but was down by 434,000 over the year. The quits rate was unchanged at 2.1% in June. Quits decreased in construction (-64,000) and in state and local government education (-55,000).
In June, the number of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.5 million, and the rate decreased to 0.9%. Layoffs and discharges decreased in finance and insurance (-26,000). The number of other separations was little changed in June at 314,000.
