The number of US job openings fell by 181,000 in October from the prior month to 6.0 million, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, the number of hires rose 4.4%.

Job openings have been at or near record high levels since June.

The job openings rate — a measure of job openings compared with total employment — edged down to 3.9% in October from 4.0% in September.

Bloomberg reported US job openings unexpectedly cooled in October from an all-time high a month earlier, still consistent with a solid job market.

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