DeLong Smackdown Watch: Andy Harless and Structural Unemployment Edition

Hoisted from Comments: Anderw Harless writes:

Is America Facing an Increase in Structural Unemployment?:Take a closer look at the data: http://stats.bls.gov/jlt/

The rate of job openings (as of May, the last observation) is at 2.4%, back to where it was in October 2008. The rate of hires is at 3.4%, back to where it was in June 2008. These figures are not consistent with the story that says firms are having trouble hiring because the unemployed don't have the skills they need...