Another record for US job openings; 10.9 million in July

By PAUL WISEMAN
AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers once again posted a record number of job opening in July — a sign that the labor market was bouncing back from last year’s coronavirus recession. The Labor Department said job openings rose to 10.9 million in July from the previous record — 10.2 million in June. But the department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) report showed that actual hiring dipped slightly — to 6.7 million in July from 6.8 million in June. Layoffs rose slightly to 1.3 million. Nearly 4.5 million people quit their jobs, up from 4.1 million in June — and a sign that many Americans are confident enough in their prospects to seek something new.