The number of job openings fell 40,000 in August from July to approximately 4.1 million on the last business day of the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. However, the job openings rate was 2.9% in August, unchanged from July.

Accommodations and food services had the highest job openings rate of all industries at 4.1% in August.

The hires rate edged down to 3.4% in August from 3.5% in July, according to the BLS. There were 4.7 million hires in August, compared with 4.8 million in July.

Separations fell 31,000 to almost 4.5 million in August. The separations rate was 3.2% in August, down from 3.3% in July.