July 11, 2007 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Job openings in May 2007

In May, the job openings rate was unchanged at 2.9 percent. Job openings include only those jobs still open on the last business day of the month.

[Chart data—TXT]

The job openings rate rose over the month in the accommodation and food services industry. None of the regions experienced a significant over-the-month change in the job openings rate.

The seasonally adjusted job openings rate was highest in May for the following industries: accommodation and food services (4.2 percent), professional and business services (3.7 percent), and education and health services (3.7 percent).

The job openings rate is the number of openings divided by employment plus job openings. A job opening requires that a specific position exists and there is work available for that position, work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is found, and the employer is actively recruiting from outside the establishment to fill the position.

These data come from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. The above data are seasonally adjusted. Data for May 2007 are preliminary and subject to revision. Find additional information in "Job Openings and Labor Turnover: May 2007" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 07-1032.