Job openings in North Carolina mirrored the national decline in October, both for the month and the year, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
At the end of the month, there were a preliminary estimate of 8.7 million open jobs nationwide or 5.3%. Though job openings are down from peaks in early 2022, they remain much higher than in any previous decade in recent history.
Compared to October 2019, for example, the most recent monthly job openings were up by about 1.4 million.
Industries such as health care and hospitality are experiencing even higher job-opening rates as they struggle to recruit and retain employees.
Health care employees face rampant burnout, while hospitality employees have been in short supply after the Great Resignation drove many to pursue higher-paying employment opportunities.
North Carolina’s unfilled positions dropped to 294,000 (5.6%) in October from the 312,000 reported in September.
Regionally Washington D.C. was at 4.5%, 30,000 open jobs in October; Virginia 5.7%, 254,000; Maryland 5.9%, 173,000; Tennessee 5.9%, 209,000; Georgia 6.4%, 335,000; South Carolina 6.5%, 165,000. California had the lowest rate at 4.3%, 807,000 in October, while Alaska had the highest at 7.1%, 25,000.