Job Openings Pick Up Ahead of the Holiday Season
|
|
. CREDIT: Job search image via Shutterstock |
An increase in job openings during October means that job-seekers may be happy this November. New data from the job search site Simply Hired reveals that job openings increased for the fifth time in six months this October.
Overall, job openings increased 4.1 percent from the previous year and more than 8 percent from last October. Despite the increases in job openings, there remains three unemployed persons for every one open job.
Additionally, the researchers found that job openings increased in the top 50 metropolitan areas this October. Salt Lake City led the way, with an 8.8 percent increase in job openings. Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, Fla., also saw openings increase by 7.8 percent. Jacksonville, Fla., Los Angeles and Denver also experienced more than a 6 percent increase in job openings.
Gains in openings were seen in more than 70 percent of specific industries. The biggest increases in openings occurred in the automotive and transportation industries, which grew 13 percent and 10.1 percent respectively. The biggest decreases in job openings were seen among government and nonprofits.
"It is very encouraging to see that job openings have increased again this month, marking a steady growth trend in the right direction," said Gautam Godhwani, co-founder and CEO of Simply Hired, which conducted the research. "With the presidential election around the corner, Americans will be putting their bets on a leader for our nation who can continue to create economic growth."
Growth in job openings also extended to more than 80 percent of specific occupations. The largest growth occurred among workers in law enforcement and fire and safety. As the holiday season approaches, the number of openings for retail workers also increased. Job openings for military personnel, however, experienced the biggest drop in openings, falling 5.6 percent.
The information was based on job data from the job search website Simply Hired.
Follow David Mielach on Twitter @D_M89 or BusinessNewsDaily @bndarticles. We're also on Facebook & Google+.