US job openings slip in April; hiring rises
Job seekers meet with employers at a job fair in Sunrise, Florida in this photo taken in January this year. AP Photo
WASHINGTON — U.S. employers advertised fewer jobs in April, but overall hiring rose and the number of people quitting their jobs increased.
The Labor Department says job openings fell 3 percent to a seasonally adjusted 3.75 million.
Total hiring jumped nearly 5 percent to 4.4 million. And the number of people quitting their jobs increased 7.2 percent to 2.25 million.
More hiring and quits are a sign of a dynamic job market. Most workers quit jobs when they have a new position or are confident they can find one. More quits are therefore a good sign.
The job market is very competitive for those looking for work. There were 3.1 unemployed workers, on average, for each open job in April. In a healthy economy, the ratio is 2 to 1.
