ISTANBUL 

US job openings hit 7.192 million in March, below estimates, according to Labor Department figures released Tuesday.

The market expected the figure would be at 7.49 million. In February, the number of openings was revised downward by 88,000 to 7.5 million.

The number of hires saw little change, around 5.4 million, and its rate remained unchanged at 3.4% in March.

Total separations, which include quitting, layoffs and discharges, was broadly stable at 5.1 million, while its rate was constant at 3.2%.

Some 3.3 million workers left their jobs in the world's largest economy in March, staying around a rate of 2.1%, the agency said in a statement.

Those leavings fell in transportation, warehousing, and utilities, by 49,000.

The Labor Department's survey measures job vacancies by collecting data from employers about employment, job openings, hiring, and separations.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS, considers job openings for all positions that are open or not filled on the last business day of the month when the survey is done.