"For only the second time since 2000, there are more job openings than Americans who are unemployed."
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A.J. Scherman, 37, left, works with fellow apprentice Ryan Buzzy, 18, right, on a robotics control computer at a chainsaw assembly line at a Stihl Inc. production plant in Virginia Beach, Va., on May 25, 2017. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
West Virginia GOP right about job openings, unemployed workers
In a recent tweet, the West Virginia Republican Party offered an example of how well the national economy is performing.
On Aug. 10, the party tweeted, "ICYMI: For only the second time since 2000, there are more job openings than Americans who are unemployed. Tax reform and a pro-growth agenda have unleashed America's economic engine. #WVGOP #WVComeBack"
Is this correct?
We turned to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the official federal data source for employment figures. The bureau collects both statistics -- job openings and unemployed workers.
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We produced a chart to show how those trend lines interact:
The chart makes it clear: For the first time since both statistics were recorded at the same time, the number of job openings, shown in blue, has exceeded the number of unemployed workers, in red, in recent months.
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This was the case in March, April, May and June. So the tweet understated the number of times, but was otherwise accurate.
Our ruling
The West Virginia Republican Party tweeted, "For only the second time since 2000, there are more job openings than Americans who are unemployed."
In March, April, May and June, the number of job openings was higher than the number of unemployed Americans -- the first time since that has happened since both statistics were calculated.
That’s four times rather than two, so the tweet actually undersold the accomplishment. We rate the statement True.
Our Sources
West Virginia Republican Party, tweet, Aug. 10, 2018
Los Angeles Times, "There now are more job openings in the U.S. than unemployed workers to fill them," June 5, 2018
Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings, accessed Aug. 23, 2018
Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployed workers, accessed Aug. 23, 2018
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West Virginia GOP right about job openings, unemployed workers
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