Investing.com - The number of job openings in the U.S. declined more than expected in May, causing some concern over an improving labor market but sticking to levels that show employers are actively seeking workers, official data showed on Tuesday.
In the release of the monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), the U.S. Labor Department said that the number of job openings, excluding the farming industry, fell to 5.666 million in May from 5.967 million a month earlier, which was revised from the original reading of 6.004 million.
Analysts had expected the number of job openings to decline from the initial reading to 5.950 million.
The report has garnered more attention despite the lag on the data, as Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen has cited the survey when assessing the state of the labor market.
Following the report, EUR/USD was trading at 1.1409 from around 1.1406 ahead of the release of the data, GBP/USD exchanged hands at 1.2862 compared to 1.2864 previously, while USD/JPY was at 114.31 from 114.05 earlier.
The US dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major rivals, was at 95.83, compared to 95.85 ahead of the report.
Meanwhile, U.S. stock markets traded with mixed signs after the open. The Dow 30 slipped 6 points, or 0.037%, the S&P 500 lost 3 points, or 0.11%, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 3 points, or 0.05%.
Elsewhere, in the commodities market, gold futures traded at $1,209.76 a troy ounce, compared to $1,210.42 ahead of the data, while crude oil traded at $44.34 a barrel from $44.44 earlier.