Washington, DC - The numbers: The number of job openings in the U.S. climbed to a record 6.94 million in July in a clear sign that a booming economy is entering the second half of the year with a big dollop of momentum.
Job openings rose from 6.82 million in June, the government said Tuesday.
Workers who switch jobs usually get better pay than those who remain in their old ones. And more people switch when they are confident about the economy.
What happened: Job openings increased the most in insurance, finance and manufacturing.
…
Big picture: The U.S. economy is booming. Growth surged in the spring and has carried through summer. Unemployment is uber-low at 3.9%, layoffs are at a 50-year low and small-business owners say they are more optimistic about the economy than ever.
Some workers are taking advantage of the strong economy and tight labor market by switching jobs in search of better pay.
…
