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Job openings in the United States declined in August, but layoffs remained low, indicating stability in the labor market.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Tuesday that the number of job openings, a measure of labor demand, decreased by 256,000 to 7.079 million at the end of August.
July's data was revised up to 7.335 million open positions from 7.271 million in previous estimates.
Economists surveyed by Reuters had expected 7.225 million job openings in August. The job openings rate also fell to 4.3 percent from 4.4 percent in July.
Most economists believe the labor market has regained its balance after facing difficulties during most of the summer.
Nonfarm payrolls increased by 162,000 in August, the highest in five months. A Reuters survey of economists predicts nonfarm payrolls will increase by 90,000 in September, with the unemployment rate expected to remain stable at 4.1 percent.
The September employment report will be released on Friday.
Labor market stability gives the Federal Reserve room to focus on inflation. The U.S. central bank raised the benchmark overnight interest rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.75 percent to four percent this month, the first increase in three years, and signaled further increases in borrowing costs in the coming months.
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