Employers Post Record Number of Open Jobs in August
WASHINGTON — U.S. employers posted the most jobs in two decades in August, and hiring also reached a record high, fresh evidence that companies are desperate to staff up amid solid economic growth.
Job openings rose a slight 0.8% to 7.14 million, the highest on records dating to December 2000, the Labor Department said Oct. 16. That is also far more than the 6.2 million of people who were unemployed that month.
The number of available jobs has swamped the number of unemployed for five straight months. Hiring has been solid, which has pushed down the unemployment rate to a nearly five-decade low of 3.7%. Strong demand for workers when so few are out of work may force more companies to raise pay in the coming months.
President Donald Trump celebrated the report on Twitter, tweeting: “Incredible number just out … Astonishing! It’s all working!” Trump added that the stock market was “up big” and referenced “Strong Profits.”
Incredible number just out, 7,036,000 job openings. Astonishing - it’s all working! Stock Market up big on tremendous potential of USA. Also, Strong Profits. We are Number One in World, by far! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 16, 2018
Yet so far, pay raises have been modest. Average hourly earnings rose 2.8% in September compared with a year earlier. That’s much higher than several years ago, but below the estimated 4% gain that is typical when unemployment is so low.
It’s a sharp turnaround from the Great Recession and its aftermath. In 2009, there were as many as six unemployed workers for each available job. Now, that number has fallen below one.
Employers hired about 5.8 million people in August, the report showed. That also is the most on record, but that increase partly reflects population growth. The percentage of the workforce that found jobs in August ticked up to 3.9% from 3.8% in July. That matched an 11-year high first reached in May.
Job openings rose in August in professional and business services, which include mostly higher-paying positions in engineering, accounting and architecture, as well as temporary help. Postings in that category have jumped 27% from a year ago.
Construction firms also are desperate for workers, posting 298,000 open jobs. That’s nearly 39% more than a year ago. Job openings also increased in finance and insurance and health care.
Openings fell in August from the previous month in manufacturing, retail, and slipped slightly in hotels and restaurants.
