HOUSTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The number of job openings in the United States decreased by 0.3 million to 7.0 million on the last business day of September, the U.S. Department of Labor said Tuesday.

The data showed that the job openings rate was 4.5 percent in September while the number of hires was little changed at 5.7 million.

The hiring rate was 3.8 percent with total private and government hiring rates remaining virtually unchanged.

The number of total separations was also little changed at 5.7 million, that is, a 3.8 percent rate.

Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month throughout the business cycle. When the number of hires exceeds the number of separations, employment rises, even if the hiring level is steady or declining.

Conversely, when the number of hires is less than the number of separations, employment declines, even if the hiring level is steady or rising.

Over the past 12 months ending in September, hires totaled 67.5 million and separations 65.1 million, yielding a net employment gain of 2.5 million. Enditem