The job openings rate in March was at the lowest point since mid-2005, according a report by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

On the last business day of March, there were 3.7 million job openings in the United States , and the job openings rate was 2.6 percent. Job openings include only those jobs open on the last business day of the month.

The job openings rate remained essentially flat from August 2006 through September 2007 then began trending downward. Meanwhile, the hires rate has had an overall downward trend since July 2006, and has reached the lowest level since early 2004. The separations rate has had an overall downward trend since November 2006.

Since the survey began in December 2000, three industries have consistently had higher job openings rates than the other industries: education and health services (3.7 percent in March), accommodation and food services (3.8 percent), and professional and business services (3.9 percent).

Over the year, the job openings rate rose significantly only for federal government. The rate fell over the year for total private industry (2.9 percent).