Top 50 Metro Areas See Increase in Job Openings in July, reports SimplyHired

 SimplyHired’s newly released August 2012 Employment Outlook reports that nationwide job openings reached a 4.5 percent increase month-over-month and a current 9.9 increase year-over-year. Job competition was seen to have remained at a proportion of three unemployed workers to every one job opening.

“With nationwide job openings increasing for the third month in a row, we see an improved outlook for those who are unemployed,” said Gautam Godhwani, co-founder and CEO of Simply Hired. “While there is uncertainty with the nation’s slow growing economy and whether the Federal Reserve may stimulate it in the coming months, it’s clear that companies across the U.S. are looking to hire in the meantime.”

For the second straight month, the report showed that all major metro areas experienced an increase in number of job openings. The largest increases were found in the Grand Rapids (9 percent) and Cleveland/Akron and Salt Lake City (8 percent each) and competition within metro areas slightly improved in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and Houston. About 70 percent (14 out of 18) of the major industry groups saw job increases in job openings with hospitality leading the way at an increase of 11 percent, and non-profits coming next at 9 percent. The losers in July were retail, which fell by 6 percent, and construction, media, and manufacturing, all declining by 2 percent.

Occupations experiencing the greatest job growth were law enforcement, fire and safety (15.8 percent), and engineers of all types (14.1 percent). The sole occupation declining over June was educators (down 2 percent). Top hiring companies throughout the nation include those related to healthcare, technology, and financial companies.