The number of job openings in July surged to 6.6 million, the Labor Department reported on Wednesday, as work opportunities have rebounded since the pandemic hit the nation.
Vacancies, though, still remain lower when compared to the same period last year.
In March, the month that the economy shut down to slow the spread of the virus, there were just over 6 million job openings. As the economy suffered through the shutdown, openings dropped to 4.9 million in April but started to increase as businesses began to reopen. In May, openings totaled 5.3 million, and in June, they were just above 6 million.
The Labor Department defines a job opening as a position that is available but not filed on the last business day of the month.
The largest openings in July occurred in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector and the education and health services sector. Both had more than 1.2 million openings in July.
Professional and business services also had 1.2 million openings in July.
The largest increase in openings when compared to June occurred in retail trade, up 172,000, in healthcare and social assistance, up 146,000, and in construction up 90,000.
Of the 6.6 million openings in July, nearly all of them, 5.9 million, were in the private sector.
Several sectors also saw a reduction in openings in July. The list includes the leisure and hospitality division, which had 78,000 fewer openings in July when compared to June. Included in this area are food services, arts, and entertainment.
Other areas with fewer openings were state and local governments. Openings decreased by 3,000.
