U.S. job openings and hires were steady in May, Labor Department report says

Job openings and hires in the U.S. held steady during the month of May, according to a Labor Department monthly job openings and labor turnover survey. 

There were 7.6 million available positions in May, which was the same as April. The hiring rate was also unchanged from April, at 3.3%, with about 5.2 million Americans taking new jobs in May, the Wall Street Journal reported.  

The rate of workers facing layoffs was up to 1.1%, a slight increase over the 1% rate in April. 

The rate by which workers voluntarily left their jobs was also unchanged from April, at 1.9%, with 3.1 million Americans quitting.