US job openings fall, hiring rises as figures paint mixed picture of labor market
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The number of available jobs in the U.S. fell in March, though companies filled more of their open positions in a sign they are still confident enough to hire.
The Labor Department says that job postings fell 2.9 percent to just under a seasonally adjusted 5 million in March. Meanwhile, total hiring ticked up 1.1 percent to 5.1 million, the most since December.
The figures underscore that lackluster job gains overall in March reflected a temporary slowdown. Last week's jobs report showed that businesses ramped up hiring in April.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The government also says layoffs jumped in March, particularly in the Midwest, where recent job cuts in the oil and gas industry have cost thousands of jobs.