The number of US job openings in December was essentially flat from November, down only 0.1% to 5.5 million, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, the number of hires edged up 0.8% from November.

The job openings rate — a measure of job openings compared with total employment — fell to 3.6% in December from 3.7% in November.

MarketWatch reported that although job openings were little changed in December, hires continued a multi-month winning streak as economic growth powers on.

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