US job openings hit 7.2M in July, below estimates

​​​​​​​By Mucahithan Avcioglu

ISTANBUL (AA) - US job openings hit 7.2 million in July, below estimates, according to Labor Department figures released Wednesday.

The market expected the figure would be at 7.38 million. In June, the number was revised upwards to 7.357 million.

The number of hires saw little change, around 5.3 million, and the rate remained unchanged at 3.3% in July.

Total separations, which include quitting, layoffs and discharges, were broadly stable at 5.3 million, at a constant 3.3% rate.

"Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer. Other separations include separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm," the agency said in a statement.

Some 3.2 million workers left their jobs in the world's largest economy in July, staying at around 2%.

The Labor Department's survey measures job vacancies by collecting data from employers about employment, job openings, hiring and separations.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS, considers job openings for all positions that are open or not filled on the last business day of the month when the survey is taken.​​​​​​​