The number of job openings rose 3,000 month-over-month in October to more than 4.1 million on the last day of the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The job openings rate was 2.9% in October, unchanged from September but down from 3.0% in October 2006.

The job openings rate was highest in accommodations and food services at 4.9% in October.

The hires rate rose to 3.5% in October from 3.4% in September, according to the BLS. There were more than 4.9 million hires in October compared with 4.7 million in September.

Separations rose by 235,000 in October to almost 4.7 million. The separations rate was 3.4% in October compared with 3.2% in September.