There were 2.5 million job openings in the US as of April Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This number is lower than months prior, but reflects three sectors that seem to have bottomed out in March and begun to increase: Government, Restaurants, and Professional Services (likely led by accountants and lawyers).
Looking to the private side alone, a survey of hiring managers by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) shows that 18% of companies plan to hire this month. The number jumps to almsot 25% for small- and mid-sized companies. Where 30% of large companies (>500) are planning to lay people off, almost 85% of small- and mid-sized companies plan to at least maintain staffing levels.
The most interesting part of the SHRM survey, however, is the increase from 1% to 13% in the number of companies that are uncertain whether they will hire, fire, or stay the course. I think this is an optimsitic sign. They might not buy into the “green shoots of recovery,” but they’re no longer bearish either.
Things might just be getting better. Slowly.
