The gap between openings and unemployed workers could keep pressure on the Fed to raise rates despite a global economic slowdown.
But the unemployment rate rose to 3.9% as more U.S. workers joined the labor force.
Modern technologies, the hot economy, and negative perceptions of the manufacturing industry deepen a skills gap that jeopardizes manufacturers' business.
With unemployment at its lowest rate in five decades, attracting and retaining workers becomes a top operational priority.
“The job market is booming, impacted by the deficit-financed tax cuts and increases in government spending.”
Employment costs rose 0.5% in the fourth quarter of 2016, below the level of increases in the prior three quarters.
Despite a tepid start in May, summer hiring of 16- to 19-year olds is outpacing 2015.
Inflation pressures remained modest, despite a 2.2%, 12-month increase in core prices.
Nearly one third of respondents said that they could not fill positions because they could not find qualified applicants, says the NFIB.
April layoff numbers were the highest since May 2012, reports Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
Private-sector businesses added fewer jobs in April than analysts expected, and nonfarm productivity fell for the second quarter in a row.
First-quarter data show that U.S. wages and salaries are beginning to rise after years of stagnation.
