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US job openings at 5-month low in July while hiring returns to record level

Nonfarm job openings in the U.S. came in below expectations in July and were at a five-month low, but hiring rebounded and matched the record level set earlier this year, the Labor Department said.

Seasonally adjusted job openings stood at 7.2 million in July, unchanged from the downward revised reading in the previous month. It was the lowest level recorded since February when job openings were at 7.1 million.

The consensus estimate from economists polled by Econoday was for job openings of 7.3 million in July.

The sectors that posted fewer job openings included wholesale trade and federal government, while those that recorded an increase included information, and mining and logging.

After a decline in June, hiring rose month over month in July to 6.0 million from 5.7 million, matching the series-high recorded in April.

Total job separations, which include resignations and layoffs, increased to 5.8 million from 5.5 million in June.

In July, the job openings rate decreased month over month to 4.5% from 4.6%, while the hires rate ticked up to 3.9% from 3.8%. The separations rate also rose to 3.8% from 3.6%.

The government reported Sept. 6 that total nonfarm payroll employment in the U.S. grew by 130,000 in August, coming in below analysts' expectations.