The number of job openings was more than 3.9 million on the last business day of January, down 382,000 year-over-year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. There were 4.3 million job openings in January 2007.

The job openings rate was 2.8% in January compared with 3.0% in January 2007.

The hires rate fell to 3.3% in January from 3.6% in January 2007, according to the BLS. There were approximately 4.5 million hires in January, down 447,000 from almost 5.0 million in January 2007.

Separations fell by 327,000 year-over-year to 4.3 million in January. The separations rate was 3.1% in January compared with 3.4% in January 2007.