Blog
U.S. Job Openings Reach an All-Time High
July 6, 2021
The number of unfilled jobs hit a record high heading into summer, as employers try to fill positions to meet strong consumer demand. The number of open jobs at the end of May climbed by 16,000, bringing the total to 9.2 million. That is the highest-ever in records that date back to 2000.
The number of available jobs comes close to matching the number of Americans who were unemployed and actively seeking work, which was 9.3 million in May.
The currently employed are taking advantage of the job market being so wide open, as the rate of workers who have left their job voluntarily remains at a high level. As of May, the share of U.S. workers leaving jobs of their own volition was 2.7%, the highest in decades. Workers usually only quit if they are confident they can get another job with better compensation elsewhere, and with so many openings, they are probably right.
