U.S. job openings fell by 2.4% on a year-over-year basis in January to approximately 2.7 million, according to numbers released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The job openings rate rose to 2.1% in January from 2.0% in January 2009.

The number of hires fell 5.8% year-over-year to almost 4.1 million in January. The hires rate fell to 3.1% in January from 3.2% a year ago.

Separations fell by 19.5% in January to approximately 4.1 million from approximately 5.1 million in January 2009. The separations rate fell to 3.2% from 3.8% a year ago. Separations include involuntary losses of jobs as well as voluntary departures from jobs such as quits and retirements.

The data released today includes revisions to incorporate annual updates to data, according to the BLS.