The number of US job openings increased in September along with the number of separations, the Labour Department said on Tuesday.
In its Job Openings and Labour Turnover Survey, the department reported that 3.677 million jobs were open in September, up from 3.487 million in August. The number of jobs available increased in most sectors, most notably government, where openings jumped to 426,000 from 370,000.
Jobs also opened in construction, manufacturing, professional and business services, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality. Only the trade, transportation and utilities industry saw a decrease in openings.
Total September separations, which include voluntary resignations, layoffs, firings and retirements, swelled to 4.610 million from 4.499 million in August.
The department said it did not have data at the detailed local level on the effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which struck Florida and the Gulf Coast at the end of summer, but the storms' impact may be reflected in the report's national estimates. Total hirings fell to 4.589 million in September from 4.601 million in August.