Washington:US job openings rose to 7.52 million in September from a revised 7.19 million in August, exceeding forecasts of 7.15 million, according to Labor Department data released Tuesday.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, employers had 7.523 million unfilled positions on the last business day of September, up 333,000 from August, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. The agency revised the August figure upward by 111,000.

The data characterized the number of openings and the vacancy rate, which stood at 4.5%, as little changed for the month. State and local governments outside education recorded 104,000 more openings than in August.

Employers hired 5.4 million workers in September, while 5.32 million left their jobs. Both totals showed little change from August. Hiring in accommodation and food services rose by 158,000, while separations in the sector increased by 195,000.

The number of workers who voluntarily left their jobs increased to 3.4 million, up 375,000 from a year earlier. Quits in accommodation and food services increased by 197,000 from August.

Layoffs and discharges remained relatively stable at 1.6 million nationwide but fell by 70,000 in the health care and social assistance sectors.