Open jobs outnumber US unemployed for 3rd straight month

• The Labor Department reported that job openings have barely increased, rising by just 3000.
• 6.56 million were were searching for work in June.
• The economy expanded at a 4.1 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter, the fastest pace in four years.

An employee works on an aircraft engine for the Airbus A320 NEO at the industrial and technological engine manufacturer French Safran plant, in Colomiers, southwestern France, on May 17, 2018.

Pascal Pavani | AFP | Getty Images

U.S. employers posted slightly more openings in June than the previous month, resulting in more available jobs than unemployed workers for the third straight month.

The Labor Department says job openings barely increased, rising just 3,000, to 6.66 million. That's more than the 6.56 million people than were searching for work in June. It's also close to April's figure of 6.8 million, a record high. Overall hiring slipped to 5.65 million from 5.75 million and the number of people quitting their jobs declined slightly to 3.4 million from nearly 3.5 million in May.

Businesses are optimistic about the economy and stepping up hiring in anticipation of solid future growth. The economy expanded at a 4.1 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter, the fastest pace in four years.