There are more than six million more job seekers than job openings nationwide — an average of 2.9 unemployed workers per available job — according to researchers at the Economic Policy Institute in D.C.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released data Tuesday showing there were 3.3 million job openings nationwide in August, well below the number of unemployed workers, which stood at 9.4 million.

This is the highest ratio of jobless to job openings since January 2004, according to institute economist Heidi Shierholz.

“Millions of American workers are now facing extended spells of unemployment with little hope of finding a job,” she said in a prepared statement.