Demand for workers strengthened in September as U.S. job openings rose more than expected, new government data show.
Job vacancies climbed by 333,000 to a four-month high of 7.523 million, from an upwardly revised 7.19 million in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Economists had projected 7.1 million.
Private-sector openings were led by professional and business services (106,000), manufacturing (54,000), construction (36,000), and wholesale trade (21,000).
State and local government job vacancies—excluding education—also rose by 104,000.
The latest data suggest the labor market remains in a low-hire, low-fire environment, with layoffs subdued and hiring activity showing little momentum.
Despite employers advertising more openings in September, new hires were flat at 5.4 million. U.S. firms also maintained their headcount, with layoffs and discharges also little changed at 1.6 million….